4 Critical Legs to a Successful Nevada County Chronic Fatigue Treatment Program

If you live in Nevada County and suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) or have been diagnosed with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) or Systemic Exertion Intolerance Disease (SEI) you are both fortunate and unfortunate. 

You’re unlikely to find a physician in such a rural area with significant knowledge of this condition and the ability and interest to support you. That could be a blessing since medicine has nothing to offer you but symptom relief. 

Even the esteemed Johns Hopkins University says that CFS may worsen with mental or physical activity and the cause is unknown. Medicine understandably searches for the cause of everything. Perhaps the focus should be more on helping people overcome this debilitating condition. 

There’s a saying that is appropriate here: “When you hear hoofbeats, think horses not zebras”.

Here’s why I say that. While medicine is searching for a single cause perhaps looking at what is happening might be more productive. Let’s compare the symptoms of CFS with another condition:

 The most common symptoms of CFS, ME, and SEI:

  • Severe fatigue that is not improved by rest
  • Sleep problems
  • Post-exertional malaise (PEM), where your symptoms get worse after any physical or mental activity
  • Problems with thinking and concentrating
  • Pain
  • Dizziness

That doesn’t look like fun does it? It’s a terrible way to live, robbed of the energy to perform even life’s simplest tasks. Now let’s look at a condition of imbalance of the Autonomic Nervous System called Dysautonomia. Interestingly some of the symptoms are eerily similar to CFS. Take a look:

  • Migraines or frequent headaches
  • Sleeping problems
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness, vertigo
  • Brain fog, forgetfulness, can’t focus
  • Ongoing tiredness

Do you see a similarity? Dizziness, thinking and focus problems, sleep problems, fatigue are common to both of them. Might there be more in common than a few items in a list of symptoms? I’m not trying to say they are the same condition but I am pointing out the commonality.

That commonality is an imbalance in the Autonomic Nervous System where there has been a chronic overactivity of the Sympathetic Nervous System that has suppressed the Parasympathetic Nervous System. With CFS this imbalance is so chronic that even the Sympathetic System has fatigued. 

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It’s frustrating to suffer from a condition like CFS where medicine does not know its cause and can only offer symptomatic relief. While short term symptomatic relief might be both desirable and necessary don’t give up on changing the trajectory of this devastating condition. 

Nervous System Focus

Both of the lists of symptoms for CFS, ME, SEI as well as the list of common symptoms of Dysautonomia are the result of imbalance of and irritation to the nervous system. The Autonomic Nervous System is the system that controls and coordinates all organ function and balance. 

The Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) is commonly referred to as the “Fight-or-Flight” System and it is activated in response to stress. The SNS is the part of our nervous system tasked with survival. It worked well when life had frequent real threats to survival like a predator. In modern times the SNS responds to both real and perceived threats. Suffice it to say that our world is filled with stimuli that are perceived threats. 

The chronic overactivation of the SNS is energizing in its initial stages. Over time we begin to live in a state of Sympathetic over activity. This suppresses the activity of the Vagus Nerve which is responsible for most of the functions that support overall health and well being like a healthy heart rate and blood pressure, digestion, sleep, immune function, etc. 

With chronic SNS activity the SNS eventually fatigues and the result is some combination of exhaustion, fatigue, burnout, even CFS.

4 Legs to a Successful Chronic Fatigue Treatment Program

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome is a manifestation of severe nervous system imbalance and exhaustion. Let’s look at the most important 4 legs to a treatment program and then briefly discuss a few others. 

Critical Leg #1: Removing Irritation to both the SNS and Vagus Nerve. In my chiropractic practice my priorities are the upper cervical spine, pelvis, and thoracic spine. The upper neck and the pelvis have a strong influence on the Vagus Nerve. Imbalances in these areas can irritate and suppress the Vagus Nerve.

The mid back or thoracic spine is where the Sympathetic Nervous System travels down the spine. Irritation in this area can drive overactivity of the SNS.

Critical Leg #2: Structural Balance. We want your structure starting at your pelvis and moving up to your shoulders and head to be balanced. Any imbalance results in a constant effort on the part of your brain and nervous system to bring you back into balance. Imbalance is also an indication of significant nervous system interference. 

Critical Leg #3: Vagus Nerve Activation. With the chronic imbalance of the Autonomic Nervous System it is essential that we activate and stimulate the Vagus Nerve. Doing this takes advantage of a neurological principle, ‘Neurons that fire together wire together’. Doing this is essentially the same process in reverse that resulted in the profound imbalance. Not only do you need to activate the Vagus Nerve but your nervous system needs time to recover.

Critical Leg #4: Conscious Breathing. I use breathing to both activate the Vagus Nerve as well as to help restore nervous system balance. Most of us breathe in ways that drive activation of the SNS and rob us of effective delivery of oxygen to provide energy. The goal of this is to restore healthy breathing and establish a healthier C02 threshold. 

Additional Support: With a condition as complicated as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome there are a number of areas that need some focus to support healing and recovery. The more we can support the body in its healing the better that process moves forward. Here are a few other concepts.

    • Nutrition Support: this ranges from the avoidance of things like polyunsaturated fats (PUFA), caffeine, alcohol, and sugar along with the regulation of blood sugar. It also can involve the use of adaptogens to support healing of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (HPA). This is the neurological pathway that responds to stress. 
    • Sleep Hygiene: as you move through the healing process keeping your sleep routine consistent is critical. Often sleep will not improve until some stress has been removed and healing has started. It is important to maintain a consistent bedtime, sleep in a dark and cool room, avoid food for a few hours before bed, and avoid anything stimulating before bed.
  • Mental Health Support: if your history involves significant physical or emotional trauma it is a good idea to seek out the support of a therapist skilled in working with trauma. EMDR is a great modality to seek out. 

The traditional medical approach has little to offer beyond temporary symptom relief and that carries with it the challenge of long term medication use. A more natural approach to restoring balance to the nervous system gives you more control over your own healing. 

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