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Page 51
| Pain |
| Pain is all too familiar for anyone with chronic fatigue syndrome. Everything hurtshead, muscles, joints, tendons and ligamentswhile nerves send sharp shooting pains through the body. Even touching the skin lightly can irritate overly sensitive nerves. Unfortunately, while the nervous system is quick to respond to problems it is slow to heal once injured. Like so many other aspects of CFS, what causes all this pain is poorly understood, but several factors are probably responsible. The build-up of excess lactic acid that forms in the muscles as they burn glycogen for energy causes much of the stiffness and pain. Muscle cramps also serve as an outlet for the body to release stress. |
| Another source of pain is hormone-like substances called prostaglandins that regulate inflammation, muscle contractions and blood vessel dilation. Produced from essential fatty acids in foods, some types of prostaglandins increase pain while others prevent it and keep pain-causing prostaglandins in check. The release of adrenaline and cortisone during continued stress impairs many cell functions, and one of these is the breakdown of essential fatty acids. As a result, fewer beneficial pain-hindering but more pain-producing prostaglandins are formed. |
| Many CFS sufferers desperately turn to pharmaceuti- |
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