Can Chronic Pain Cause Fatigue

Apathy And Lack Of Motivation

Apathy describes a general lack of intensity of most or all emotions not attributable to decreased level of consciousness, cognitive disorder or emotional distress. It is an across-the-board reduction in amplitude of mood and affective states. A common clinical variant is apathy interrupted by sudden and brief outbursts of irritability or agitation if provoked. The differential diagnosis includes abulia, akinesia and akinetic mutism, depression, dementia, delirium, despair and demoralization.9

In order to feel motivated, one must have the desire to initiate mental or physical activities, and the pleasure or reward for performing them might be sooner or later . Motivation may occur not only for the sake of pleasure, but for reduction of pain. Consider a person motivated to perform some unpleasant task or duty because of guilt. Impairment of hedonic functioning, possibly associated with dysregulation of dopamine in the mesocorticolimbic pathyway10 occurs in depression and apathy syndromes, and it governs both the anticipation and direct experience of pleasure, which also are necessary at some level for motivation. One study showed that the neurotransmitter dopamine was not necessary for mice to like or learn about rewards, but it was necessary for them to seek rewards during goal-directed behavior.11

How Does Chronic Fatigue Impact A Persons Life

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or CFS is severe fatigue that lasts for six months or more. Even during resting periods, it may not treat a person diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome. Hence, this complex medical illness often relies on treating the symptoms rather than the disease itself. This disorder is also called Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or ME/CFS, which may disable a person altogether. There are significant consequences of overlooking the symptoms of chronic fatigue. Mostly, there are times when fatigue may look like daytime tiredness or sleepiness. Yet, the first sign of continuous pain and lethargy needs a general physician for further examination and diagnosis.

Protect Your Joints And Muscles

When you have muscle or joint pain, it can be hard to be active. But when youre less active, your muscles get weaker and that can make your joint pain worse.

Work with your rheumatologist to make a physical activity plan thats right for you. If you have muscle weakness, physical therapy can help strengthen your muscles. Your rheumatologist can refer you to a physical therapist.

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Food Allergies Intolerance And Reactions

If a specific food makes you feel ill, the reaction could be an allergy, an intolerance or some other kind of reaction. Many people label all negative reactions to food as allergies. After all, the end result is the same whether you have an allergy or an intolerance to a certain food: you must avoid the food that triggers your reaction.

However, the reactions inside the body are different, and lead to varying symptoms. The Mayo Clinic reports that the most common food allergy symptoms are:

• Itching and tingling in the mouth
• Dizziness and fainting
• Itchy skin, associates with hives or eczema
• Abdominal discomfort, including diarrhea and vomiting
• Swelling in the mouth, throat or other parts of the body
• Difficulty breathing, including wheezing and nasal congestion
• Anaphylaxis, which is life threatening

As such, you are not likely to experience a food allergy with fever, headache and fatigue. Instead, such symptoms may be signs of intolerances, other underlying disorders, or contaminated food.

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Theres Tired And Then Theres Fatigue Lets Not Mistake The Two

Fatigue is one of the most challenging symptoms of chronic illness to cope with. This is something we hear from CreakyJoints members over and over and over again.My worst problem is fatigue. I need all my energy just to get through my eight hours of work and when thats over I have none left to do anything else, Elena K. told us recently on Facebook.Fatigue is robbing me of the energy I wanted to use on all the projects I had planned for retirement, shared Beverly K. on Facebook.

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Take Breaks From Your Phone

Technology can be a catch-22 when it comes to resting. Playing Candy Crush, watching Netflix, or surfing the web may feel like a good way to wind down but its not real rest and may even make you more anxious. In addition, the blue light emitted from phone, tablet, and laptop screens can also mess up your sleep. Dont use screens within an hour of bedtime, Dr. Cohen cautions.

What Are The 4 Stages Of Osteoarthritis

The four stages of osteoarthritis are:

• Stage 1 Minor. Minor wear-and-tear in the joints. Little to no pain in the affected area.
• Stage 2 Mild. More noticeable bone spurs.
• Stage 3 Moderate. Cartilage in the affected area begins to erode.
• Stage 4 Severe. The patient is in a lot of pain.

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Treatment Options For Me/cfs

There is no cure for ME/CFS, and no prescription drugs have been developed specifically for its treatment. There are treatments to help reduce your symptoms . Work with your health care team to develop coping strategies, such as managing your activity level and taking medications to control symptoms. Focus on feeling better rather than feeling “normal.”

When To Be Concerned

Of course, body aches and fatigue are very common, but the severe pain located in joints and muscles is a lot like what you have when you are dealing with the flu.

Some of the other symptoms that accompany chronic body aches and fatigue are:

• Tenderness when pain is most severe
• Lack of sleep
• Fever
• Inflammation

Due to the fact that there are some serious conditions that can manifest with chronic body aches and fatigue, it is critical that you make an appointment with your physician to get checked out.

Following are some of the common conditions that manifest with these symptoms:

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Avoidance Of Back Exercise

It is an essential factor for the health of ones back to engage in lumbar strengthening exercises on a consistent basis. If you suffer from any back disorder or chronic pain, any exercising may need to be done under the observation of a professional physical therapist. If back pain persists, one must consult with a medical professional.

How To Entrain Your Biological Rhythms

Strengthening zeitgebers during the day can improve nighttime sleep and also daytime energy, mood and performance. We can curb our chronotype — whether fast or slow thus modifying individual genetic propensity by what we do, how we do it, and when we do it.

Take Breaks

Breaks can restore focus and thus productivity to normal levels despite natural ebbs and flows. A break could be beneficial before or at the time of an expected dip, such as mid-afternoon, in order to restore mental focus. Regular short breaks can be scheduled every hour just as many secondary education classes have a 10-minute break every 50 minutes of lecture.

What you do during the break does matter. Going from your computer to phone will do little for restoring brain function. Completely and quite literally unplugging from work is ideal and maximize the break time by including these three elements: change of scenery to include nature, movement, and socializing.9, 14 If you cannot have all of them, go for one or two. Look for green spaces with plants and trees or at least where you can see the sky. If you cannot get away for a quick walk, stop and say hello to a colleague. Dont feel like chatting? Walk up and down the stairwell listening to your favorite music.

Time important tasks

Increase natural light exposure

Limit screen time

Move more

Eat regular meals and time your caffeine

Sleep on it and wake up the same time every day

Practice low and slow breathing

Have fun and find meaning

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Home Remedies And Lifestyle Changes

Making some lifestyle changes may help reduce your symptoms.

Limiting or eliminating your caffeine intake can help you sleep better and ease your insomnia. You should limit or avoid nicotine and alcohol too.

Try to avoid napping during the day if its hurting your ability to sleep at night.

Create a sleep routine. Go to bed at the same time every night and aim to wake up around the same time every day.

Pain Can Be Connected To Inflammation

Often inflammation accompanies pain and this too can have an influence on how tired you feel.

Inflammation is an attempt by the body to address an infection or injury by sending blood or fluid to the area. The result of this is redness, swelling, heat and pain. It may also lead to fatigue, especially if inflammation persists over a period of time, as is the case with conditions such as arthritis.

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Too Much Or Too Little Activity

A person with fatigue may not feel able to exercise, and a lack of exercise can cause further fatigue. A lack of exercise may eventually cause deconditioning, making it harder and more tiring to perform a physical task.

Fatigue can also affect healthy individuals after prolonged, intense mental or physical activity.

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Joint Pain And Fatigue What Could Be The Possibilities

Fatigue is usually characterized by extreme tiredness that even rest and relaxation cannot cure. A number of factors are responsible for fatigue, including conditions that cause joint pain.

It is important to note that different people have different pain thresholds. However, constant pain brought on by sore or damaged joints cause fatigue in most people. The diseases responsible for fatigue as a result of joint pain include fibromyalgia, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.

Joints can swell or become inflamed while performing certain activities. It can also lead to a chronic condition. The physical and emotional energy required to relieve the joint pain and continue with everyday activities tends to contribute to the fatigue. Painful joints will also prevent a patient from getting a good nights rest. Without good sleep, fatigue will be a natural consequence.

Fatigue In Chronic Rheumatologic Diseases

Unusual and chronic fatigue with various etiologies was described for 27 % of patients in a primary care clinic . Fatigue is common in RA, SpA, Sjögren syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus and vasculitis, although most publications concerned fatigue in RA or SpA . In RA and SpA, the frequency of fatigue ranged from 42 % to 80 % depending on the definition and methods of assessment . For 75 % of patients with ankylosing arthritis and 50 % of those with RA, fatigue was considered severe .

Several methods of evaluation have been used to investigate fatigue in rheumatologic diseases . The simplest and quickest scale is the visual analog scale , but this is a unidirectional scale. Multidirectional scales developed to include the different aspects of fatigue are the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 vitality subscale , the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Fatigue Scale , the Profile of Mood States, the RA-specific Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue scale, the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory, the Brief Fatigue Inventory, and the Fatigue Severity Scale . With the VAS scale, the mean fatigue level in patients with RA was 42.1 .

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Eating And Drinking Habits

Diet can affect how tired or energetic a person feels. Maintaining a moderate and well-balanced diet can lead to better health and better sleep.

Here are some tips to try:

• Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day.
• Eat snacks that are low in sugar.
• Avoid junk food and follow a well-balanced, healthful diet.
• Consume plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid consuming caffeine in the afternoon and evening.

How Do Doctors Treat The Two Disorders

To get relief through medications or a variety of therapies, a proper diagnosis is crucial.

Medical options are just the tip of the iceberg for both conditions and the best treatments often dont come in a capsule, he says. But when we do use medications, we need to ensure that we are targeting pain without excess sedation.

When it comes to non-pharmacological help, doctors use a variety of tools like counseling or suggesting support groups.

Physical activity is also crucial in staying healthy and helping treat both conditions. Its important to stay active, but remember to always pace yourself. Set a structured activity program that avoids overexertion and reach out to your doctor for help in putting together an activity program.

On a good day, a patient may decide to walk four miles, then require two to three days to recover, says Dr. Bolash. Try to walk one mile a day so you are active every day. I also recommend swimming, yoga and biking.

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How To Live With Chronic Pain And Fatigue

Get some rest! While good sleep is essential for everyone, itâs crucial for those of us living with chronic pain and fatigue. Sleep is the time when our bodies repair themselves, and for some, maybe the only time our bodies and brains fully relax, turning off all the pain and anxiety signals.

Improving sleep quality can sound like a daunting task. But break it down into small steps that make it easier to achieve. Set a routine to go to bed and get up around the same times every day. Work toward that new bedtime by eating lighter meals earlier in the evening, and include sleep-promoting foods like kiwi and salmon. Swap a vigorous evening workout for a relaxing after-dinner walk, and skip the caffeine and alcohol altogether.

Turn off devices before turning out the lights. Maybe write down something to be grateful for that day. Try meditating, gentle yoga, or a hobby like crocheting or reading to wind down. The key is to quiet our brains and put ourselves in a positive mood for rest.

Eat the rainbow! Proper nutrition and hydration are the cornerstones of a healthy life. hile it can be hard to muster the energy to cook while dealing with fatigue and chronic pain, the better we eat, the better we feel.

Aim to eat regular meals rich in fiber, healthy fats and lean protein to help balance blood sugar and stabilize stress hormones. Limit caffeine and alcohol intake.

Never Ignore Chronic Body Aches & Fatigue

Chronic body aches and fatigue can affect anyone- no matter what your age- and can be a quite stressful experience.

Some of the most common body aches include neck/back pain, muscle pain, headaches, and joint pain. In addition, there is neuropathic pain, which is a condition that results in a malfunction of the nervous system.

Chronic body aches and fatigue can be a serious medical condition that needs medical attention and should never be ignored.

Following are some of the most common causes of body aches and fatigue that you should be aware of.

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Physical Inactivity And Obesity

A lack of exercise and unused muscles due to living with a chronic pain condition can cause tiredness and exhaustion. Frequent inactivity may also lead to a loss of muscle mass, which is especially important to combat conditions such as severe arthritis. One study pointed out that people with fibromyalgia who spent more time doing light physical activity had lower levels of fatigue and pain than those who were inactive. Being overweight also increases the risk of developing sleep apnea and other sleep disturbances.

Poor Diet

Not getting adequate and healthy food and fluids in ones diet can be a subtle, longer-forming cause of fatigue. Your body needs plenty of water and a substantial amount of vitamins and minerals to operate efficiently. Relying on junk food and an insufficient amount of water can cause ones fatigue to be directly stemming from dehydration and vitamin deficiency.

Solution: Assess your dietary and physical needs. Do changes need to be made? Many lifestyle adjustments are important to counteract the frequency of fatigue. A doctor may suggest seeing a physical therapist or a to reevaluate your needs in these areas. When combined with an exercise plan, patients will benefit from implementing a complementary treatment to go along with any medications taken.