Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Insomnia, and Long-Term Neck Pain Helped by Chiropractic

A documented case study showed that a chiropractic patient was helped with chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia, and chronic neck pain. The study was published in the fourth-quarter issue of the Asian-Pacific Chiropractic Journal. This study notes that someone can only be diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome if that person has been suffering with debilitating fatigue for more than six months and experiences no improvement from rest.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control describe chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), on their website as "ME/CFS is a biological illness that affects many body parts. It causes severe fatigue not improved by rest, problems thinking and sleeping, dizziness, pain, and many other symptoms. People with ME/CFS may not look sick but can't do their normal activities. ME/CFS may get worse after they do any activity -- physical or mental."

The CDC website also discusses the impact that CFS has by stating, "It's estimated that up to 3.3 million people in the United States suffer from ME/CFS. More than 9 in 10 people with ME/CFS have not been diagnosed by a doctor. ME/CFS costs the U.S. economy about $18 to $51 billion annually in medical costs and lost income."

In this case, a 60-year-old woman presented herself for chiropractic care. She was seeking help with her chronic fatigue syndrome, insomnia, and long-term worsening neck pain. All her problems seemed to have started three years ago following a motor vehicle accident. She reports that she no longer had the energy to complete her daily activities or engage in recreational activities she liked such as horseback riding. The woman had been irregularly attempting a variety of forms of care with no help.

After a thorough chiropractic examination and spinal x-rays, the patient was started on a concentrated chiropractic care plan. The study records that over that four-week period of care, the woman experienced significant results. During this time, the woman saw complete resolution of her chronic fatigue syndrome as well as a complete resolution of her insomnia. Additionally, her neck pain was completely corrected. As a result of her improvements, the woman said she had more energy and was able to return to riding horses and working full-time.

The authors of this study summed up this case by saying, "This case report details the improvement in CFS, insomnia, and neck pain symptoms and an overall improvement in quality of life following a series of concentrated Chiropractic care programs."