Link Between Fatigue And Pain
Fatigue and pain are two common symptoms in RA, and the link between fatigue and pain in it has been described . In a cross-sectional study, VAS fatigue score was mainly correlated with VAS pain score pain was most strongly associated with the five variables explaining fatigue . Garip et al. confirmed this association, showing that fatigue intensity in RA patients was strongly correlated with VAS pain score and DAS28, with greater correlation between fatigue and pain scores than between fatigue score and DAS28. Moreover, after treatments , the decrease in VAS fatigue score was correlated with ameliorated pain and improved DAS28 score . For Wolfe et al. , pain was a strong independent predictor of fatigue with sleep disturbance, depression, tender joint count and disability by the health assessment questionnaire. Among the variables usually linked to fatigue, pain was a better predictor of fatigue .
Work On Your Sleep Hygiene
The National Sleep Foundation defines sleep hygiene as a variety of different practices and habits that are necessary to have good nighttime sleep quality and full daytime alertness. These practices include:
- Limiting daytime naps to less than 30 minutes
- Avoiding stimulantssuch as, coffee and nicotineclose to bedtime
- Exercising during the day
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What Does An Ra Flare Feel Like
Someone with RA may usually be able to do household chores, but a flare can interfere with their ability to perform these tasks. Even simple things like using the bathroom and combing oneâs hair can become extremely difficult and tiring to complete. Some people have said that their joint stiffness was so severe that it felt like their limbs were stuck together with superglue.
Those experiencing a flare are likely feeling symptoms from head to toe. Fatigue can be debilitating, so much so that people experiencing an RA flare donât feel refreshed even if they sleep for long periods of time. It may also keep someone in bed for hours or days.
The symptoms of an RA flare can be so bad that a person experiencing one feels like their thoughts are all scattered and will hide away from others. They can also result in significant distress, including tearfulness, irritability, and frustration, and lead to depression, which can lead to suicide ideation.
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Can Vitamin B12 Help Arthritis
Vitamin B complex is a type of non-antioxidant vitamin. We dont fully understand how this type of vitamin may treat arthritis-related conditions, but evidence from trials suggests that vitamins B3, B9 and B12 might be of some benefit for treating osteoarthritis, particularly in improving joint mobility and hand grip.
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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Signs Your Fatigue May Be Caused By Inflammation
Fatigue can be tricky thing to treat, since it’s often rooted in a variety of illnesses, with a multitude of causes. But one issue that may cause fatigue is inflammation, and all the health concerns surrounding it.
“Inflammation is supposed to occur as your bodys first line of defense against infections and injuries, such as when you have external swelling and bruising,”Michelle Routhenstein, MS RD CDE CDN, a Preventive Cardiology Dietitian, tells Bustle.“Inflammation becomes dangerous when this acute inflammation turns into a chronic, low grade inflammation.”
Chronic inflammation can damage the body, and over time even increase your risk of heart disease, heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, and Alzheimers disease, Routhenstein says, which is why it’s so important to pay attention to these clues, while also doing whatever you can to maintain a healthy lifestyle. As Routhenstein says, ” to lower inflammation in the body include nutrition optimization via an anti-inflammatory heart healthy diet, stress reduction strategies, routine physical exercise, and perfecting sleep quality and quantity.”
Doing these things will lower inflammation in your body, and lessen your risk of developing inflammation-related diseases. Here are more signs and symptoms of chronic inflammation in the body that may be causing fatigue, according to experts.
Other Sources Of Fatigue
Your fatigue is not always directly related to your arthritis disease activity, inflammation or pain. In fact, according to a 2017 study published inCurrent Rheumatology Reports, your fatigue level probably has more to do with other contributing factors, including obesity, physical inactivity, sleep disturbance and depression. Several of them may work together to cause your extreme tiredness, but identifying and treating even one of these factors can provide relief.
During Pain Awareness Month in September and all year long, weve got you covered with unique pain management tools and resources you wont find anywhere else.
Managing Pain
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How Stress Affects Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a condition that over 1.3 million Americans currently live with. If you are one of them, gaining a deeper understanding of the autoimmune disease is essential. The role that stress can play in affecting symptoms should be at the top of your agenda.
Knowledge is power and will support your bid to build a better lifestyle when living with rheumatoid arthritis. Heres what you need to know about stress and what it can do to your physical and mental wellbeing when living with a chronic health complaint.
Established Ra: Is There A Lag In Fatigue Improvement
Patients with RA in the Ontario Best Practices Research Initiative registry that were not in a low disease state at baseline were followed to determine if patient-reported outcomes improved differently comparing ERA with established RA. In nearly 1000 RA patients of whom one-third had early disease, time to remission was faster in ERA as was time to achieving a physician and patient global assessment of 0 or 1 out of 10. However, the time to improving fatigue was the same in both those with early and established RA.
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What Are The Symptoms Of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis affects everyone differently. In some people, joint symptoms develop over several years. In other people, rheumatoid arthritis symptoms progress rapidly. Many people have time with symptoms and then time with no symptoms .
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include:
- Pain, swelling, stiffness and tenderness in more than one joint.
- Stiffness, especially in the morning or after sitting for long periods.
- Pain and stiffness in the same joints on both sides of your body.
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When To Seek Help
If youre able to manage your RA with medications and lifestyle choices, you may only need to see your doctor for regular checkups. If your symptoms change or if flare-ups are becoming more frequent or more severe, see your doctor soon. Dont wait months for your next appointment.
Keep your doctor informed about your health. If youve started taking a new medication and suspect its interfering with your sleep, for example, tell your doctor. Your doctor may be able to recommend changes to your routine or healthcare plan that can have positive impacts on your health and the management of your RA.
Stress is a physical and psychological reaction to stimuli. Everyone experiences some stress at times. The burst of hormones produced when youre confronted with a threat triggers the fight-or-flight response. A little stress is part of a normal, healthy life. But too much stress or an inability to handle stress can be harmful.
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Fatigue Often Comes Along With Arthritis Painfeeling Tired Can Make The Pain Seem Worse
If pain is the most common and troublesome symptom of arthritis, fatigue runs a close second. Often the two are closely related. Dealing with pain day to day can wear you down and cause fatigue. Being fatigued, in turn, can worsen pain and make it more difficult to manage.
There are many reasons for the fatigue that often comes with arthritis pain. One is the disease process itself. The inflammatory cytokines released in arthritis are the same ones released when you have a bad cold or the flu. Regardless of what triggers their release, the result is the same fatigue.
The presence of inflammation is quite significant in terms of therapy for fatigue, says David Pisetsky, MD, PhD, chief of the Division of Rheumatology and Immunology at Duke University Medical Center and director of the Duke University Arthritis Center. In the absence of uncontrolled inflammation or if treating inflammation fails to relieve fatigue, doctors will consider other possibilities.
Causes of Fatigue
Medication side effects. Some medications, including those for pain, are associated with fatigue. Common culprits include certain antidepressants, blood pressure medication, sleep aids, narcotic analgesics, and even some prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . Corticosteroids may cause daytime fatigue by keeping you awake at night.
Self Care for Fatigue
Measurement Of Fatigue In Ra
Numerous fatigue tools/scales have been used in RA. A systematic review described 23 different fatigue tools which were published before Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System was developed. In their review, they concluded that ordinal and VAS, the Short Form 36 vitality subscale, the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy Fatigue Scale , the RA-specific Multidimensional Assessment of Fatigue scale and the Profile of Mood States were validated and seemed sensitive to change. Some scales are generic, and others are disease specific.
Commonly used measures of fatigue in RA include numeric rating scales such as VAS 0 to 100 mm or an 11-point scale . Other scales such as change in fatigue have been used . Other questionnaires within RA trials include the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness-Fatigue Bristol Rheumatoid Arthritis Fatigue-Multidimensional Questionnaire SF-36 vitality domain and PROMIS-29 Fatigue T-score. The FACIT-F scale ranges from 0 to 52, where higher numbers imply less fatigue. Fatigue scales are correlated to each other, but there is no universally agreed-upon fatigue questionnaire/tool to use in RA. The PROMIS fatigue score has face validity measures fatigue across the spectrum of severity is correlated with pain, sleep disturbance, anxiety and depression and disease activity and is also strongly correlated with other fatigue scales.
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Skip Caffeine After 2 Pm
Thats because it can take up to eight hours for half of the caffeine you consume to be metabolized by your body. Drink coffee too close to bedtime and it can mess with how well you rest. Poor sleep quality has been linked to more fatigue, as well as higher levels of depression in people with RA.
Taking your last coffee break by 2 PM can help ensure youre able to fall asleep by 10 PM or so, say experts. Other healthy habits to help you rest better: Avoid heavy meals and alcohol before bed wind down with a warm bath or soothing music and keep your bedroom quiet, dark, and comfortable. Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day can also help.
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How To Beat Arthritis Fatigue
Fatigue can be a persistent foe when you have arthritis. Learn how to fight back and get the rest and energy you need.
The first step in fighting arthritis-related fatigue is to identify possible causes. Keeping a journal to note your energy levels throughout the day and what you did before, during and after can help. Once you recognize possible causes of your fatigue, discuss them with your doctor. The two of you can come up with a comprehensive plan so you have the energy you need. The plan to regain your vigor may include changes to your arthritis medication and lifestyle, as well as medications to treat fatigue directly.
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Stress Increases Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms
Stress and the feelings of being overwhelmed affect us all. And while you may try to kid yourself into thinking youre not stressed, your body will show physical symptoms linked to the biological changes that occur.
The list includes headaches, low energy, and reduced immune systems. Tellingly, stress triggers the release of chemicals that cause your heart rate to increase and muscles to tense up. This can cause fatigue, which leads to muscle pains. Worse still, the reduced inflammation defense mechanisms will allow joint damage to worsen.
Stress hormones and increased inflammation of muscles and joints affect rheumatoid arthritis , lupus, psoriatic arthritis , and ankylosing spondylitis . It is, therefore, one of the most common triggers as well as one of the most powerful when it strikes.
Reason : Youre Not Sleeping
Whether youre in pain or worried about complications related to your diagnosis, know that insomnia is common in RA patients. Virtually all of my patients suffer with chronic fatigue during bouts of active rheumatoid disease, says Robert G. Hylland, M.D., assistant clinical professor of medicine at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in North Shores, MI. He suggests examining your sleep habits and discussing the possibility of using sleep medication with your physician. And if youre prone to worry and guilt, ask to be referred to a cognitive behavioral therapist, he advises.
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Learn How To Control Stress
When a person is under excessive stress, breathing becomes more shallow, limiting oxygen that’s available to the body. Start breathing deeply to consciously ward off the effects of stress. Take 5 or 10 deep breaths when you feel stressed and fatigued. Breathing exercises and meditation are techniques you can practice any time practicing them will arm you with the tools you need to react to stress and fatigue.
Diagnosis And Treatment For Arthritis Flares
If you think youre going through a flare that hasnt improved after a couple of days, call your rheumatologist or primary care doctor. They will want to monitor how you feel and may want to order imaging and blood tests to see whats going on. They can also prescribe medications to get the flare under control.
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Maintaining Ability To Work
Patients with RA who maintained their ability to work had less fatigue compared to those who were work disabled, and these differences seemed related to better mental health, not physical health. However, other factors are likely related to an ability to work, which may not have been measured, where both fatigue and work disability are a consequence of joint damage, age, type of job, less flexibility at work and so on. A prospective study is needed to determine if a programme that keeps people in the workplace will improve fatigue.
What Is The Safest Drug For Rheumatoid Arthritis
The safest drug for rheumatoid arthritis is one that gives you the most benefit with the least amount of negative side effects. This varies depending on your health history and the severity of your RA symptoms. Your healthcare provider will work with you to develop a treatment program. The drugs your healthcare provider prescribes will match the seriousness of your condition.
Its important to meet with your healthcare provider regularly. Theyll watch for any side effects and change your treatment, if necessary. Your healthcare provider may order tests to determine how effective your treatment is and if you have any side effects.
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Puffiness Around The Eyes
If you don’t usually have puffiness around the eyes, or darker circles under them, having these symptoms appear out of nowhere may be a sign of inflammation in the body. As Bierman says, “From a musculoskeletal perspective, superficial inflammation is observed as swelling, which is frequently observed by a patient’s eye.”
But be on the lookout for other eye-related symptoms, too. “Tired-looking, puffy eyes that have dark circles underneath ,” Dr. Axe says. “Or, red eyes that are itchy and irritated, which can be signs of allergies/an over-active immune system.”
Eat Breakfast Every Day
Your mother likely harped on this when you were a small child. Guess whatMom was right. When you first wake up, your blood sugar is low. Eating a proper breakfast can serve as an energy booster. Skipping breakfast drains your energy, contributing to the fatigue problem. It’s important to eat nutritiously at every meal but focus on breakfast to start your day off right.
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