FATIGUE IN ARTHRITIS

Fatigue is common as an unintended “side effect” of having chronic conditions like arthritis.  Feeling tired from time to time is a normal part of life, but crippling fatigue for days, weeks, or months that doesn’t seem to let up must be addressed.  Generally, there are many causes of fatigue apart from arthritis, so you should always see your doctor for a comprehensive workup to look for causes other than arthritis.  Meanwhile, here are some ways that arthritis can contribute to fatigue. 

Arthritis is painful:  having arthritis pain can make even routine activities difficult, which can be very tiresome.  Dealing with pain from day to day, especially if there are frequent flare-ups, can be physically and emotionally overwhelming.  This daily burden can easily lead to fatigue over time.

The pain may interfere with rest:  Another issue with having chronic pain related t arthritis is that it may be difficult for you to get proper rest.  Your pain may cause you to wake frequently, or make it difficult for you to fall asleep to begin with, leading to a loss of rest that can cause fatigue.   

You have an inflammatory disease:  many forms of arthritis involve having excessive inflammation in your body.  This creates a stressful internal environment, which drains your body of its resources, leading to fatigue. 

Your medication may be an issue:  All medications have side effects, some mild or unnoticeable, while others are more serious.  If your fatigue coincides with the start of a new medication, then it is possible that the medication is contributing to feeling tired/wiped out. 

Depression:  Unfortunately, chronic illnesses like arthritis are often associated with mood orders.  Fatigue may be a sign that you are experiencing depression, and this possibility should never be overlooked. 

Deconditioning:  Exercise maintains our muscle mass so that our bodies remain strong and functional over t heyears.  Arthritis tends to make many people physically inactive, which may cause a loss of muscle mass over the years.  This loss leads to weakness and fatigue. 

Discuss your fatigue and any other symptoms you are having with your doctor.  Together you should be able to come up with a game plan to fight back to regain as much of your energy as possible.