Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME

G93.3 · Other

Clinical description

Profound fatigue, post-exertional worsening, and cognitive symptoms not fully explained by other conditions.

ICD-10 classification¹

Work & claim impact

Hover highlighted terms for claim context · ? for more info

Crash after cognitive or physical exertion — full-time attendance often disputed without pacing evidence.

Functional capacity Material duties Functional-capacity builder

Claim note: Insurers test occupational incapacity — document how it blocks material duties , not the diagnosis label ↗ alone.

Examples

For Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME: cannot perform [your core duty] because fatigue and malaise.
Use format: "Because of [symptom], I cannot [material duty]."
Diagnosis (ICD-10) on a certificate does not replace proof that material duties are blocked.
Duty link (cognitive): cannot perform client workshops because brain fog and poor concentration.

Diagnosis trap Symptom → duty Material duties Incapacity Diagnosis vs duty Functional capacity builder · Language map

Category context

Symptom-based or non-specific codes — pair with functional impact in your story.

Common symptoms (story builder)

Hover for a plain-language explanation · + adds to your health story.

Fatigue Malaise Reduced stamina

Relevant specialists & assessors

Treating and assessing roles commonly involved with this condition on SA income-protection claims — click a role to see what they do.^†

Physician (specialist) Medical doctor Internal medicine specialist — often manages complex or multi-system conditions. What they do → Psychiatrist Mental health Medical doctor specialising in mental illness — can diagnose, prescribe, and admit. What they do → Occupational Therapist Allied health Assesses daily and work functioning — ADLs and return-to-work capacity. What they do → Independent Medical Examiner (IME) Assessor Assessor Insurer- or employer-appointed assessor — not treating doctor. What they do → General Practitioner (GP) Medical doctor Primary care doctor — first point for sick notes, referrals, and ongoing treatment. What they do →

Full clinicians & practices directory →

Linked medications (SA)

Generic active ingredients, registered brand formulations, SA strengths, and typical dosing — cross-linked to medication pages.^†

Amitriptyline

4 SA brands Schedule 5 ℹ

Tricyclic antidepressant — low doses often used for nerve pain, migraine prevention, or sleep.

Brands: Amitriptyline, Trepiline (amitriptyline), Trepiline (low-dose amitriptyline), Elavil (amitriptyline)

SA strengths: 10 mg tablet · 25 mg tablet · 50 mg tablet

Typical SA dosing: Pain/sleep: 10–25 mg nocte; depression: higher divided doses under supervision.

Pregabalin

2 SA brands Schedule 5 ℹ

Calcium-channel modulator for neuropathic pain and generalised anxiety — sedation and dizziness common.

Brands: Lyrica (pregabalin), Pregabalin (generic)

SA strengths: 25 mg capsule · 75 mg capsule · 150 mg capsule · 300 mg capsule

Typical SA dosing: Often titrated 75 mg BD to 150–300 mg BD for pain/anxiety per tolerability.

Linked therapy

Session-based referrals — not medicines. Separate from linked medications above; still evidence for functional capacity and recovery. Therapy directory → · Not scheduled →^†

Occupational therapy

Occupational therapy Not scheduled ℹ

Functional rehabilitation — workplace pacing, ergonomics, ADL retraining.

Session formats: 45 min session · 60 min session

Typical plan: 45–60 min sessions per treating plan.

Physiotherapy (prescribed)

Physiotherapy Not scheduled ℹ

Prescribed rehabilitation for pain, injury, and mobility restoration.

Session formats: 30 min session · 45 min session · 60 min session

Typical plan: Usually 30–60 min sessions weekly to thrice weekly per referral.

Common causes or triggers

Typical precipitants seen in SA income-protection claims — hover labels for context; use ? for claim tips. ^†

Multifactorial onset
Fatigue syndromes often lack single cause — build chronology across medical, work, and sleep domains.
Source: ClaimBuddy curated
Multifactorial contributors
Genetic, environmental, and work factors often combine — build a chronology rather than a single cause label.
Source: ClaimBuddy curated

Comorbidities or complicating factors

Conditions that often overlap and amplify functional limits — pair with specialist reports and your functional matrix. ^†

Post-viral onset
ME/CFS frequently follows infection — document infectious trigger and post-exertional crashes.
Source: ClaimBuddy curated
Multimorbid presentations
Fatigue and malaise codes often sit atop several active condition s — list each contributor.
Source: ClaimBuddy curated
Overlapping conditions
Check for mood, sleep, pain, or metabolic comorbidity that amplifies functional limits.
Source: ClaimBuddy curated

References for therapy

Guideline themes and evidence sources to pair with your treating plan — for claims context, not prescribing advice.^†

ME/CFS — activity management NICE NG206 (fatigue syndromes)

Graded activity only where appropriate; crash patterns must be linked to material duties in claim narrative.

Open reference ↗
Occupational therapy — work capacity ClaimBuddy curated / HPCSA OT scope

ADL and workplace pacing assessments; pairs with material-duty mapping in functional capacity evidence.
Independent medical examination (IME) context ClaimBuddy curated

Assessor is not your treating doctor — prepare material duties, chronology, and treating specialist reports separately.

References & footnotes

ICD-10 code and condition label follow WHO ICD-10 classification. WHO ICD-10
Work-impact notes describe functional themes insurers probe — pair with material-duty mapping in your claim file. ClaimBuddy curated
Condition–medication links are therapeutic associations common in SA income-protection claims, not mandatory treatment pathways. MIMS / SA package inserts; ClaimBuddy curated
Specialist and assessor roles are typical for this condition in SA income-protection claims — not an exhaustive list of who may treat you. ClaimBuddy curated
Linked therapies are common non-drug interventions — cross-referenced to atlas therapy pages; insurer funding may differ from clinical appropriateness. ClaimBuddy curated
Therapy references summarise guideline themes for claims context — not prescribing advice; pair with your treating clinician's plan. MIMS / SA package inserts; ClaimBuddy curated
Causes, triggers, and comorbidity notes are claims-context summaries — not diagnostic criteria; pair with treating records and specialist opinion. WHO ICD-10; ClaimBuddy curated

Where this data comes from

ClaimBuddy collates SA-market brand names and strengths for intake — always verify against your script and clinician.

WHO ICD-10 — Condition names and ICD-10-CM codes in the condition index.
SAHPRA — South African medicine registration context; brand products must be SAHPRA-registered to be dispensed.
MIMS / SA package inserts — Registered strengths, formulations, and typical dosing ranges for SA market products.
SA Essential Medicines List (EML) — Public-sector formulary context for commonly available strengths.
ClaimBuddy curated — SA brand name collation from intake presets, claim-frequency mapping, and work-impact notes — not a substitute for prescribing information.

Language map — diagnosis vs incapacity →

Sentrix Digital, Melbourne · ABN 29 203 554 753. Not medical, legal, or financial advice. Organisation and drafting only. Verify with treating practitioners, the PDS, and the trustee/insurer. Australian complaints: insurer/trustee IDR, then AFCA. · info@sentrixdigital.com · +61 (03) 9088 1341 · Admin login