Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a disorder
that causes extreme fatigue. This fatigue is not the kind of tired feeling that
goes away after you rest. Instead, it lasts a long time and limits your ability
to do ordinary daily activities.Symptoms of CFS include fatigue for 6 months or
more and experiencing other problems such as muscle pain, memory problems,
headaches, pain in multiple joints, sleep problems, sore throat and tender
lymph nodes. Since other illnesses can cause similar symptoms, CFS is hard to
diagnose.No one knows what causes CFS. It is most common in women in their 40s
and 50s, but anyone can have it. It can last for years. There is no cure for
CFS, so the goal of treatment is to improve symptoms. Medicines may treat pain,
sleep disorders and other problems. A variety of therapeutic approaches have
been described as benefiting patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Since no cause for CFS has been identified and the pathophysiology remains
unknown, treatment programs are directed at relief of symptoms, with the goal
of the patient regaining some level of pre-existing function and well-being.
Although desirable, a rapid return to pre-illness health may not be realistic,
and patients who expect this prompt recovery and do not experience it may
exacerbate their symptoms because of overexertion, become frustrated, and may
become more refractory to rehabilitation.