As the name suggests, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) effectively means you feel tired all the time. However, this is too simple an explanation. In reality, people suffering from this will feel exhausted and will struggle to undertake any type of activity.
Worse, if they do undertake an activity then the fatigue will worsen. Inversely, it doesn’t lessen if they rest. Of course, many illnesses cause fatigue. But, if you’re suffering from extreme exhaustion, there doesn’t seem to be any other reason for it, and it’s been six months, then you are likely to have CFS.
Symptoms Of CFS
If you have CFS you will feel exhausted all the time. You’re also likely to have the following symptoms:
- Sleep doesn’t alleviate your tiredness
- Dizzy spells, especially when moving from lying down to sitting or sitting to standing
- Problems focusing and concentrating on things
- Memory problems
- Sore throat and headache
- Swollen lymph nodes in your neck
- Muscle and joint pain for no particular reason
Managing The Physical Inactivity
In the first instance, you are not going to feel motivated to do any physical activity. Your fatigue will make you feel like it is impossible. Alongside this, if you do manage to do any physical activity you are likely to feel worse afterward. That is a further reason not to try again.
But, physical activity releases endorphins that can help you to feel better. It is also good for your physical and mental health. You need to try.
The first step in dealing with physical inactivity is to speak to a reputable physiotherapy Botany. They can evaluate your situation and will provide you with a variety of exercises to help you feel better. More importantly, a gradual build-up of exercise will help you rebuild the tolerance you need to perform everyday tasks, ultimately helping you beat CFS.
Any exercise routine controlled by your physiotherapist will start very light and slowly build. It takes time to rebuild your tolerances and help you beat CFS.
Exercises you’ll be asked, and shown, include:
- Squats
- Calf raises
- Step-ups
- Strength training
As mentioned, the above start light and gradually gets heavy according to your ability. You’ll find that these help to rebuild strength and endurance, allowing you to do more.
You’ll then be able to start including aerobic exercise or even try some walking and cycling. Your physiotherapist will guide you through the right time to do each type of exercise.
Alongside all of this, it is important to do stretches. These take very little energy but will help to keep your core strong and you flexible. That’s important for long-term health, both physically and mentally.
You’ll start exercising slowly but the aim is to improve and be able to do at least five minutes without feeling fatigued. As you recover from CFS you should try to continue your exercises and extend the time and difficulty of them. It will help to prevent CFS from returning.
