Fatigue

Often we go to the doctor because we are tired all the time, and a few labs are checked and are normal, but we’re still tired. Now what?  Being tired all the time greatly affects your quality of life. You know you should eat better, exercise more, get more sleep but are just too tired to do anything about it. Fatigue may have slowly creeped into your life, or may happen fairly quickly. At first caffeine and sugars give you energy to last through the day but only for a while, and then you are tired all the time despite a pot of coffee and giving unhealthy food cravings.

The source of fatigue in our lives can be hard to figure out. Often we are stressed beyond our body’s ability to compensate. Sometimes our hormones are out of whack or maybe we need to address lifestyle habits such as diet, exercise, sleep and stress.

RAPS looks beyond the tip of “fatigue” testing, and will check a full thyroid panel, adrenal hormones or female/ male hormones to figure out the source or sources of your fatigue. Lab reference ranges tell us what “normal” levels of hormones and vitamins are but treating symptoms to optimize those normal levels can make the difference between feeling lousy every day and feeling wonderful.

Often patients are confused by all of the health information available, and even by different viewpoints of healthcare providers and experts. RAPS helps patient make sense of their symptoms, lab results and gets to the root causes of fatigue.

A patient I saw last summer was so exhausted she would go to the grocery store for some items and then expect to spend the next couple of days sleeping, her fatigue was so great. We found she had a combination of adrenal fatigue, hypothyroidism and lack of some essential female hormones. A few months after starting treatment she had enough energy to complete daily tasks, go shopping and take a walk daily. Her energy continues to improve overtime. A bonus was a return of normal menstrual cycles as well.

For an initial evaluation of fatigue symptoms the first office appointment will include an extensive review of symptoms, and testing will be ordered. The provider may offer a combination of blood, saliva and/or stool testing based on your symptoms. Insurances usually cover testing but may be a factor as to which testing may be ordered.

At your follow up visit the test results will be reviewed and a treatment plan will be discussed. Lifestyle improvements will be discussed, and you may be started on recommended supplements and/or medications.

Often balancing hormones and vitamin levels take time, a few weeks or months and you can expect retesting to make sure the therapies are working for you.

If you would like to get to the root cause of your fatigue and be able to do something about it, call RAPS Medical and schedule an appointment with one of our Functional Medicine providers.

About The Author
tnardozza

tnardozza

tnardozza

tnardozza

Related Posts

Could Your Chronic Headaches be the Effect of a Spine Problem?

If you experience frequent headaches that are mostly one-sided (without switching), seem to hit at the base of your head or your neck, and worsen with neck movement, it may not be your average stress-induced headache or migraine. These are symptoms of a cervicogenic headache, which results from an injury in the cervical spine. Learn more about how to spot a cervicogenic headache and a non-surgical treatment option that can address the underlying cervical spine issue for these headaches.

Read More »

Follow Us

Recent Posts

Are You a Regenexx Candidate?

About Regenexx Pittsburgh COVID-19 Protection Zone

At Regenexx Pittsburgh, we are foremost committed to the health and safety of our patients. Our team adheres strictly to COVID-19 protection protocols and ALL staff wear masks and are COVID-19 vaccinated.

Advanced IOF Certifications

Certified at the highest level for Ankle / Foot, Wrist / Hand, Hip, Knee, Shoulder, and Spine Intradiscal

Specialized Certifications

Top available certifications in Diagnostic Ultrasound, Bone Marrow and Adipose Aspirate, and Nucleated Cell Counting

Educational Certifications

Our doctors have earned both General Instructor as well as Spine Instructor certifications.

Knee

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions. View Details About Knee Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Meniscus Tears
  • Patellofemoral
  • Syndrome/Chondomalacia
  • ACL Tears + PCL, LCL & MCL Tears & Sprains
  • Patellar Tendonitis
  • Pes anersine bursitis
  • Baker’s cyst
  • Instability
  • Hamstrings Tendinopathy & Biceps Femoris Insertional Tendinopathy

Lower Spine

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions. View Details About Spine Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Lumbar Facet Injury
  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Herniated or Bulging Disc
  • Radiculopathy (pinched nerve)
  • SI Joint Syndrome
  • Many More Disc and Low Back Issues

Foot & Ankle

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions. View Details About Foot & Ankle Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Ankle Instability
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • Peroneal tendon tear or split
  • Ligament sprain or tear
  • Sub-talar arthritis or instability
  • Tarsal tunnel syndrome
  • Bunions

Cervical Spine

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions. View Details About Spine Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Cervical Instability
  • Cervical Facet Injury
  • Neck, Back or Rib Instability
  • Many More Disc and Cervical Issues Causing Pain

Shoulder

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions. View Details About Shoulder Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Rotator cuff tears
  • Arthritis of the shoulder joint
  • Thoracic outlet syndrome
  • Labral tears or degeneration
  • Rotator cuff tendonitis & tendonosis
  • AC Joint Separation
  • Recurrent shoulder dislocations

Elbow

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions. View Details About Elbow Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Instability
  • Tennis Elbow or Golfer’s Elbow
  • Nerve entrapment (ulnar nerve)

Hip

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions. View Details About Hip Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Arthritis
  • Osteonecrosis
  • Bursitis
  • Tendinopathy
  • Labral / Labrum Tear

Hand & Wrist

Regenexx® Procedures are non-surgical injection treatments that are intended to help reduce pain and improve function for those who are suffering from pain due to common injuries, arthritis, and overuse conditions.

View Details About Hand & Wrist Treatments >

Commonly Treated Conditions:

  • Hand Arthritis
  • Basal Joint Arthritis or CMC / Carpometacarpal
  • Arthritis
  • Instability
  • TFCC Tear
  • Carpal Tunnel SyndromeTrigger Finger