...Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Kristina Morgan ITT Technical Institute Ms. Gesicki October 11, 2015 Chronic fatigue syndrome is a complicated disorder characterized by extreme fatigue that can't be explained by any underlying medical condition. The fatigue may worsen with physical or mental activity, but doesn't improve with rest. The cause of chronic fatigue syndrome is unknown, although there are many theories — ranging from viral infections to psychological stress. Some experts believe chronic fatigue syndrome might be triggered by a combination of factors. There are eight official signs and symptoms of chronic fatigue disorder, including the official symptom that give this disorder its name. Symptoms include: extreme fatigue, loss of memory and difficulties with concentration, sore throat, enlarged lymph nodes, unexplained muscle pain, joint pain that seems to move from joint to joint without any swelling or redness, headaches, inability to be refreshed by sleep and extreme exhaustion after periods of physical exertion lasting more than 24 hours. Fatigue can be a symptom of many illnesses, such as infections or psychological disorders. Scientists don't know exactly what causes chronic fatigue syndrome. It may be a combination of factors that affect people who were born with a predisposition for the disorder. Some of the factors that have been studied include: * Viral infections. Because some people develop chronic fatigue syndrome after having a viral infection, researchers...
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...understanding Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Team B will define the health problem, identify the burden of the disease on the community, identify the cause of the problem, identify the burden of the disease on the community state and or national levels. The team will then identify potential solutions, explain the success of the solutions, provide additional solutions for treatment or resolution, and finally how the P.E.R.I model guided the understanding of the problem and its causes. Currently no method of testing is available to accurately diagnose CFS. Physicians go through a process of elimination to rule out other causes of the symptoms. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), characterizes Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) as a debilitating severe fatigue that is not made better by rest and is worsened by physical activity. Those who suffer from CFS will have prolonged exhaustion (24 hours or more) following physical or mental activity (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). CFS can lead to other debilitation co-morbidities including Fibromyalgia and severe headaches. Chronic fatigue syndrome is affecting communities nationwide. The disease is affecting roughly 1 million Americans and public health is researching to help decline the risks to communities. Chronic fatigue syndrome and the effects of chronic disease on communities is growing, and with out a cure it will continue to have effects on communities. Debilitating fatigue and cognitive...
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...Fibromyalgia is a common and potentially disabling condition predominantly affectinhg young to middle-aged women.1 Fibromyalgia has a varied and fluctuating clinical spectrum. The symptoms of Fibromyalgia are musculoskeletal pain and tenderness, sleep issues and significant levels of fatigue. The other key symptoms include cognitive disturbances, particularly problems with concentration, memory, and high distress levels.2 Fibromyalgia can be considered part of a group of clinical syndromes, including chronic fatigue syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivities and irritable bowel syndrome, whose clinical features reflect similar pathophysiological processes – termed by some as ‘central sensitivity syndromes’.3 These different diagnoses are used depending on the predominant clinical features. For example, patients with fatigue as their most severe symptom may receive a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. Fibromyalgia has been thought to be caused by the development of changes in the central nervous system (CNS)4,5 that alter the processing of afferent sensory input, and can be grouped together under the term ‘central sensitisation’.6 Central sensitisation changes are often triggered by long-standing psychological or physical stress.7 These changes result in the intensity of usually non-painful stimuli being amplified and experienced as painful. Other effects include abnormality in the sleep cycle, where patients are unable to achieve deep, restorative, stage IV non-REM...
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...understand how it manifests. With no concrete scientific evidence and only theories to date, we can at least see ways to help ease the pain; therapies to help make the patients more active and have a better quality of life. Fibromyalgia: The Pathophysiology Much debate of Fibromyalgia has existed since the first diagnosis. Some people are lead to believe that it replaced Chronic Pain Syndrome and/or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Did it, we will examine that here. Depending on who you talk to Fibromyalgia exists, Endocrinology says no and Neurology says yes. Who’s right, which is what we will find out? What we do know; “Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal syndrome characterized by widespread joint and muscle pain, fatigue, and tender points” (McCance RN & Huether RN, 2010, p. 1606). If that is Fibromyalgia does that not describe Chronic Pain Syndrome? Well yes and no, Chronic Pain Syndrome usually stays, is always with you all the time, whereas Fibromyalgia has exacerbations that come and go. Chronic pain Syndrome can also incorporate two different syndromes such as Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome together ("Pain," n.d.). While the exacerbations of Fibromyalgia seem to come and go, long term studies indicate that signs and symptoms stabilize within the first year and rarely change over time (Wierwille, 2010). Fibromyalgia (FM)...
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...impact that chronic illnesses have on a person’s life with particular reference to the illness Myalgic encephalomyelitis’ (M.E.) sometimes known as ‘Chronic Fatigue Syndrome’ (C.F.S). I will explore the role that hypnotherapy can have in pain relief and stress reduction. M.E. is an illness about which there is currently much disagreement among medical professionals regarding its classification, aetiology and recommended treatment. Estimates of it’s prevalence in the UK for example have ranged from 6 to 2600 in 100’000 across 10 years of study (1). Estimates by national health organizations say 450’000 people in the UK suffer. it occurs more often in women and is less prevalent among children and adolescents. Most research done has been on the assumption that they’re the same and this is gives good enough information at least for therapeutic purposes. CFS didn’t gained acceptance as a bona fide illness until 1988 because it is a ‘diagnosis by exclusion’ illness that can’t be tested for directly. Also the primary symptoms of fatigue, lethargy and muscle aches are similar to psychological conditions like depression, leading it to be dismissed by many as ‘all in their head’, a viewpoint is still held by some authorities. The Centre for Disease Control does in fact legitimise C.F.S. (2) For a diagnosis the they require that it not be a life-long condition and that they have experienced at least six months of Unrelenting, unexplained fatigue that is described...
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...location, intensity and nature of sensory information resulted from noxious stimulation of nerve endings. The emotional response and other various conscious or unconscious responses add to the concept of pain. Acute pain usually results from tissue damage and it usually ends once the injury is healed. Chronic pain is a long term condition related to a persistent or degenerative disease or it doesn’t have an identifiable cause. Although there are different opinions about when a patient can be declared as suffering from chronic pain (after six months or twelve months), the presence of such sensation after the healing period usually leads to this diagnosis. One of the diseases with a generalized chronic pain as a symptom, which continues to generate many debates in the medical world, is fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia, a disorder that affects the overall system and has an effect of generalized chronic pain, will be delineated in this paper, including its causes, manifestation, and part of the process of managing this disease in which a kinesiologist would have a central role. Fibromyalgia, estimated to affect 4% of the population, is a compilation of symptoms accompanying pain, which include fatigue, stiffness and sleep disturbance, along with psychiatric conditions such as depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder. There are different opinions in the literature in regards to the placement of fibromyalgia as a mental or somatic disorder. The International Classification of the...
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...Quantitative analysis of fatigue after stroke: The patient’s perspective Gwendoline Bungansa NRS 433-0501 Grand Canyon University Phoenix Arizona July, 17 2016 Introduction Waking up to a new normal is how a stroke patient describes his experience after a stroke. A stroke is a brain attack which happens when part of the brain is being deprived of blood supply. Stroke is not planned hence, stroke survival face varied problems as a result of the stroke incident. Fatigue is a common problem post stroke and though people experience fatigue prior to a cardiovascular accident, the fatigue post stroke as reported by patients is different. Post stroke fatigue is not related to energy exhaustion from being active (www.stroke.org.). Barbour and Mead’s research is praised for their methodology in protecting human participants, data collection, data management and analysis, and discussion of finding in an investigation of patients’ perspective of fatigue post stroke. Problem and Purpose Given that stroke patients face varied complication post a cardiovascular accident including fatigue, it was worth investigating if fatigue matter to these patients. It is reported that fatigue is common and depressing for stroke survivors. A survey of 88 patients posts stroke, 68% complaint of fatigue while 40% stated that fatigue was their worst problem post stroke. When another researcher studied 90 stroke survivors, fifty percent of the patient reported that fatigue was their major problem....
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...Multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a chronic medical condition with symptoms that affected individuals attribute to low level chemical exposure. Some believe that MCS which is an environmental illness exists and should be treated while others believe that MCS is a psychological illness. However, it is important to address the issues of MCS as it plays an important role in environmental politics and in compensation courts. Symptoms of MCS include fatigue, headaches, bowel disorders and muscle aches. These symptoms are similar to ailments such as chronic fatigue and Gulf War syndromes. Hence, a group of activists consisting of doctors and patients theorise that since the symptoms are similar there must be connection between these ailments and toxic in the environment which causes MCS. They believe that a Gulf War veteran who believes that he has been exposed to biological weapons, a sheepshearer who has developed chemical sensitivity and an office worker with chronic fatigue are all victims of toxic environment. On the other hand, a group of doctors and psychiatrists point out that symptoms such as nausea, headaches and muscle aches occur in people who are suffering from psychological disorders such as depression. Studies show that people who claim that they are suffering from MCS already suffer from depression and anxiety. Furthermore, MCS is not recognised by medical associations due to the lack of scientific evidence supporting a cause-and-effect relationship between...
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...(fibro) such as tendons and ligaments. It is usually accompanied by other symptoms in addition to the pains and is sometimes called fibromyalgia syndrome. It is a chronic persistant condition. “ The cause of fibromyalgia is not known....research has shown that people with fybromyalgaia have certain subtle changes in some chemicals in the brain and nervous system.....there seems to be a minor change in the level of neurotransmitters, the chemicals responsible for transmitting messages between nerves and brain cells. Research studies have shown that there is also an increased amount of a chemical substance called substance P in the cerebrospinal fluid and that this may be involved in the way pain messages are transmitted.” ( www.patient.co.uk/health/fybromyalgia) As the cause of fibromyalgia is thought to be from the processes in the brain and spinal cord there is little evidence that the disease is due to a problem with the peripheral muscles, tendons and ligaments although the pain is often felt there. Fybromyalgia affects one in fifty people, it usually develops between the ages of twenty five to fifty five and is more common in women. Common symptoms of fibromyalgia are pain, particularly in the neck and back, sensitivity to touch, joint sorenesss, tiredness, and problems sleeping. “ People diagnosed with fibromyalgia often experience chronic pain that can be very debilitating to their lives and careers. As many as 30% of people with fibromyalgia report having trouble simply doing...
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...------------------------------------------------- I think the most important thing to remember is that there is no cure for Fibromyalgia. The only thing you can do is aim to alleviate the symptoms and pain. With this being said it is an incurable syndrome characterized by generalized muscular pain, stiffness and chronic aching. There are also secondary unrelated symptoms. The name fibromyalgia is using the terms “fibrositis”, and “itis” which is the inflammation which is to muscles, and or pain in the muscles and connective tissues. Some additional signs/symptoms in association to fibromyalgia are anxiety, cardiovascular problems, chronic fatigue, aches and pains, depression, GI disturbances, IBS, memory problems “fibro fog”. When a patient with fibromyalgia syndrome describes this disease, they describe it as “ache all over”. They say their muscles feel like they have been pulled, torn or over worked causing pain. Most the time the pain and stiffness are worse in the early morning and in muscles that are regularly used. It is said that fibromyalgia is caused by a lot of factors that could be avoidable. Certain stress and or depression, traumatic experiences (accidents, divorce, illness). Then you have toxins being introduced into your body such as foods, air and water. Chronic fatigue or disruption of you sleep cycle. Almost every fibromyalgia case has had a personal experience with a long period of extreme stress or emotional trauma. These events are what “triggers” fibromyalgia. With...
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...understand how it manifests. With no concrete scientific evidence and only theories to date, we can at least see ways to help ease the pain; therapies to help make the patients more active and have a better quality of life. Fibromyalgia: The Pathophysiology Much debate of Fibromyalgia has existed since the first diagnosis. Some people are lead to believe that it replaced Chronic Pain Syndrome and/or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Did it, we will examine that here. Depending on who you talk to Fibromyalgia exists, Endocrinology says no and Neurology says yes. Who’s right, which is what we will find out? What we do know; “Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal syndrome characterized by widespread joint and muscle pain, fatigue, and tender points” (McCance RN & Huether RN, 2010, p. 1606). If that is Fibromyalgia does that not describe Chronic Pain Syndrome? Well yes and no, Chronic Pain Syndrome usually stays, is always with you all the time, whereas Fibromyalgia has exacerbations that come and go. Chronic pain Syndrome can also incorporate two different syndromes such as Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome together ("Pain," n.d.). While the exacerbations of Fibromyalgia seem to come and go, long term studies indicate that signs and symptoms stabilize within the...
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...Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is a musculoskeletal illness (which causes chronic pain) and a chronic Fatigue disorder. It can also change sleep patterns and cause the following: digestive disorders, chronic headaches, painful menstrual periods, temperature sensitivity, morning stiffness, numbness or tingling of extremities, and even cognitive memory problems. The name fibromyalgia comes from "fibro" in Latin meaning tissue, "my" in Greek meaning muscle, and "algia" meaning pain. Because symptoms are wide – ranged and studies for treatment of FMS did not begin until the 1980's, it is one of the most popularly misdiagnosed conditions in the medical world. The main symptoms are widespread pain and fatigue as well as tender points on the body. The muscular pain often may feel like a pulled muscle and may burn or twitch. This syndrome is diagnosed with a history of at least three months of widespread pain and tenderness in eleven to eighteen of tender-point sites. These points include: the neck, the shoulders, the chest, the rib cage, the lower back, the thighs, the knees, the arms (mainly the elbows), and the buttocks. The pain in these areas is defined as an overwhelming characteristic of FIBROMYALGIA and is long standing. Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic and debilitating disease that in the U.S.A. has been estimated to affect as many as 5 million individuals, mainly women in a ratio of 3:1.1. Patients with FM are characterized by the presence...
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...The Symptoms of Fibromyalgia The Symptoms of Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that usually causes pain throughout the body in connective tissues, or the muscles, tendons and ligaments. These fibrous tissues result in the “fibro” prefix, and “myalgia”refers to muscle pain. Unfortunately, the exact causes of the condition are not completely known, and some physicians consider fibromyalgia to be a disease of the nervous system and brain instead of the soft tissues. Regardless of cause, fibromyalgia causes real symptoms and pain for the 8 percent of the population that it affects by the age of 70. About 5 million people in the United States currently suffer from this disorder. The Most Common Fibromyalgia Symptoms The core symptoms of fibromyalgia in unrelenting, chronic pain that often grows worse with stress, increased physical activity and other environmental stimuli. These pain accelerators might include bright lights, heat or cold, loud noises and other intrusive incitements. The pain can present in various ways because people often experience their symptoms differently. Your pain might feel similar to the following descriptions: Deep pain in the legs, arms, shoulders and back Aching pain...
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...Fibromyalgia (FM) is a complex chronic pain disorder that causes widespread pain and tenderness to touch that may occur body wide or migrate over the body. The pain itself waxes and wanes over time. Fibromyalgia affects people physically, mentally and socially. Approximately 10 million Americans have FM with a ratio of about 8 to 2, women over men. It occurs in people of all ages, including children. Healthcare providers diagnose FM based on a combination of relevant symptoms, including fatigue, tenderness, functionality, and overall well-being. Additional common symptoms may include depression or anxiety, migraines, tension headaches, pelvic pain, irritable or overactive bladder, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), TMJD (including tinnitus),...
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...Problem | Problem Status | Date Started | Date Resolved | Date Inactivated | MALAISE AND FATIGUE [SNOMED-CT: 274574004] | Active | 04-03-2012 | NA | NA | Trochanteric tendinitis | Trochanteric bursitis, right hip [SNOMED-CT: 29210001] | Active | 11-23-2015 | NA | NA | Taking medication for chronic disease [SNOMED-CT: 432321000124101] | Active | 10-06-2015 | NA | NA | Osteoarthrosis, generalized, multiple sites [ICD10: M15.0] | Active | 10-06-2015 | NA | NA | Rheumatoid arthritis with rheumatoid factor of multiple sites without organ or systems involvement [ICD10: M05.79] | Active | 10-06-2015 | NA | NA | Snapping shoulder | Impingement syndrome of right shoulder [SNOMED-CT: 202337006] | Active | 10-06-2015 | NA | NA | Fibromyalgia [SNOMED-CT: 24693007] | Active | 10-06-2015 | NA | NA | Degeneration of lumbar intervertebral disc [SNOMED-CT: 26538006] | Active | 10-06-2015 | NA | NA | Trochanteric tendinitis | Trochanteric bursitis, left hip [SNOMED-CT: 29210001] | Active | 10-06-2015 | NA | NA | Moderate recurrent major depression [SNOMED-CT: 18818009] | Active | 10-06-2015 | NA | NA | Chronic fatigue syndrome [SNOMED-CT: 52702003] | Active | 10-06-2015 | NA | NA | DEPRESSIVE DISORDER NOT ELSEWHERE CLASSIFIED [SNOMED-CT: 274574004] | Active | 08-13-2009 | NA | NA | OSTEOARTHROSIS GENERALIZED INVOLVING UNSPECIFIED SITE [SNOMED-CT: 201819000] | Active | 08-22-2013 | NA | NA | RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS [SNOMED-CT: 69896004] | Active | 07-15-2008 | NA | NA | ...
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