Ken was a 57 year old professor of education who looked utterly exhausted the day we first met. His pain and fatigue had started about a year ago. He’d first seen his primary care provider who prescribed rest and muscle relaxers, then he sought relief from a chiropractor who gave him several supplements to try and recommended weekly adjustments. This afforded Ken some relief but soon, the pain was worse and the fatigue was debilitating. He sadly told me he’d had to drop half of his workload and was unable to attend many family events with his wife and grown children. This caused him to feel sad and “like a failure.” He was desperate for answers and, more importantly, for a cure. “No one can tell me what’s wrong. My blood work all looks fine, my spine’s in line, I’m resting more, I take the muscle relaxers but it’s like all of this doesn’t really change anything. My wife is supportive but I know this has taken a toll on our relationship. I want to be there for my students and my colleagues but I just can’t. I’d tell you I’m so frustrated but honestly, I don’t have the energy to be really frustrated. I’m exhausted.”

Ken was stuck in the cycle of chronic fatigue syndrome and fibromyalgia which causes pain all over a person’s body, often made worse by cold temperatures, physical exertion and emotional stress. He agreed to a treatment plan that included biweekly therapy sessions and medication to help alleviate his symptoms. Within a few weeks, the mental fog started to lift and Ken excitedly told me that he’d been able to attend a faculty retreat over the weekend without leaving early and actually enjoyed himself. Ken learned simple things he could do to support his treatment and recovery and eagerly incorporated them into his daily routine. He began meditating daily, doing gentle yoga, improved his diet to include more fresh fruits and vegetables, stopped drinking diet soda and limited caffeine. With dedication to his plan, Ken was able to return to his normal life with very little pain and fatigue.