Extreme Fatigue And Muscle Weakness

Muscle Aches Extreme Fatigue: Coronavirus Symptoms Go Beyond Fever And Cough

Fever, cough, shortness of breath.

Those are the three symptoms prominently listed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website under coronavirus symptoms.

But as case counts continue to rise in the United States and across the world, it’s clear that COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus, causes a much wider range of symptoms. The more detailed descriptions of the illness that are emerging show how doctors and researchers are still learning about the disease, which was first reported just three months ago, in real time.

COVID-19 can begin in similar ways among patients, regardless of a person’s age or health status.

Very often, extreme fatigue hits first.

Hedy Bauman, 74, was so weak she could barely make it home from a short walk to the store. Reading a few pages of the newspaper was exhausting.

“My bathroom is maybe 15 steps from my bed,” Bauman, of Silver Spring, Maryland, told NBC News. “I wasn’t sure I could get from the bathroom to my bed.” She developed chills, but no fever.

Bauman’s doctor said her symptoms were consistent with what physicians are learning about other coronavirus cases, though they are still waiting for the results from Bauman’s COVID-19 test.

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Brendan McLaughlin, 28, felt lightheaded and weak before the fever, chills and body aches began.

“I’d been healthy,” McLaughlin said. “I try to eat right. I take care of myself.”

Spinal Lesion Or Tumor

A spinal lesion or tumor is an abnormal growth of tissue within or surround the spinal cord or column. Spinal tumors can be cancerous or noncancerous, and originate in the spine or spinal column or spread there from another site.

Back pain, which is worse at night or increases with activity, is the most common symptom. If the tumor presses on a nerve, it can cause numbness or weakness in the arms, legs, or chest.

Treatment depends on the type and location of the lesion or tumor, and whether or not its cancerous or noncancerous. Surgery to remove the tumor, or radiation therapy or chemotherapy to shrink the tumor, can usually resolve leg weakness.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is also known as Lou Gehrigs disease. Its a progressive neurological disease that damages nerve cells and often begins with muscle twitching and weakness in the legs.

Other early symptoms include:

• slurred speech
• difficulty holding up your head

Theres currently no cure for ALS, but treatments are available that can help control symptoms and complications and improve quality of life.

I Have Muscle Weakness

If you have muscle weakness and visit your doctor, they will first need to know the following:

• How it began and how long you have had it for.
• Whether it is getting worse, getting better or staying the same.
• Whether you are otherwise well, are losing weight or have travelled abroad recently.
• What medicines or other drugs you have been taking and whether there are any muscle problems in your family.

Your doctor will need to examine you to see which muscles are affected and whether you have true or perceived muscle weakness. They will check to see whether your muscles are tender to touch or unusually ‘fatigable’. They may want to watch you walk.

They will then need to test your nerves to see whether the muscles are getting the right signals to act. Your doctor may need to test your central nervous system, including your balance and co-ordination. They may need to perform blood tests to look for abnormalities of hormones, salts and blood cells.

Depending on the results of these tests your doctor may also order the following:

• Nerve studies to make sure the nerves are conducting properly.
• A muscle biopsy to see whether the muscles themselves show signs of inflammation or damage. A biopsy is a procedure where a small sample is taken to look at under the microscope.
• Body scans such as CT or MRI to look for conditions elsewhere in the body which may affect muscle power and function.

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Take Care Of Yourself

Here are some suggestions that may help patients with CRF improve their own well-being.

A detailed record will help you when you discuss possible causes, treatments and coping strategies with your doctor or nurse.

Also note daily activities, medications and treatments, eating and sleeping habits, weight changes and emotional stressors, including financial concerns. Write down strategies that have worked to reduce fatigue, such as undertaking difficult tasks when your energy is highest, or pacing yourself and scheduling rest.

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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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Genetic Conditions Affecting Muscles

Muscular dystrophies: these are inherited diseases which affect muscles. They are rare disorders but the best known and most common is Duchenne muscular dystrophy. This occurs in children and leads to gradual loss of muscle power from toddler-hood.

Some rare muscular dystrophies: these can present in adulthood and include Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome and the facioscapulohumeral dystrophies. They also cause gradual loss of power and function in muscles. Those who have these conditions may become wheelchair-bound.

Sarcoidosis: this is a rare disease in which clumps of cells form in skin, lungs and soft tissues, including muscles. The condition usually goes away after a few years.

Amyloidosis involves deposits of an ‘unhelpful’ abnormal protein called amyloid throughout the body, including muscles and kidneys.

Other rare causes: direct damage to muscles can occur in rare inherited metabolic conditions. Examples include:

• Glycogen storage diseases .
• Even rarer, mitochondrial diseases which occur when the energy systems inside muscle cells don’t work properly.

Myotonic dystrophy: this is a rare genetic muscle disorder in which muscles become extremely tired. Myotonic dystrophies are passed down through families and they tend to occur earlier and become worse as they move through the generations.

Expert Explains Possible Causes Of Muscle Weakness Or Leg Fatigue

• 24 Mar 2021, 10:16 IST

• Koo

Pain or fatigue in the legs is a very common symptom, which can be caused by various underlying factors. You may have an increased risk for leg fatigue if youre female, overweight, or older.

This happens because the lower body carries the weight of the upper body. You must have experienced that sitting or standing for a long time can cause the legs to feel tired and heavy. A variety of underlying factors can also cause leg discomfort.

To understand this better HerZindagi exclusively spoke to Dr Santosh B Patil, who is a consultant Neuro and Vascular Interventional Radiologist at The Vein Center

Pain, soreness, or cramping, leg fatigue may be accompanied by any of the following factors. Leg fatigue isnt usually a cause for a major health concern, but its still significant that you pay attention to your body when fatigue occurs. Especially if you have other symptoms, said Dr Patil and explained some possible causes for leg fatigue:

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Viral Or Bacterial Infection And Fatigue

Symptoms: Fatigue, fever, head or body aches.

Fatigue can be a symptom of infections ranging from the flu to HIV. If you have an infection, you’ll probably have other symptoms like fever, head or body aches, shortness of breath, or appetite loss.

Infections that may cause fatigue include:

• Flu

Symptoms: Chronic fatigue, deep muscle pain, painful tender points, sleep problems, anxiety, depression

Fibromyalgia is one of the more common causes of chronic fatigue and musculoskeletal pain, especially in women. Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome are considered separate but related disorders. They share a common symptom: severe fatigue that greatly interferes with people’s lives.

With fibromyalgia, you may feel that no matter how long you sleep, it’s never restful. And you may feel as if you are always fatigued during daytime hours. Your sleep may be interrupted by frequent waking. Yet, you may not remember any sleep disruptions the next day. Some people with fibromyalgia live in a constant fibro fog — a hazy feeling that makes it hard to concentrate.

Constant daytime fatigue with fibromyalgia often results in people not getting enough exercise. That causes a decline in physical fitness. It can also lead to mood-related problems. The best way to offset these effects is to try to exercise more. Exercise has tremendous benefits for sleep, mood, and fatigue.

Continued

Rheumatoid Arthritis And Fatigue

Symptoms: Fatigue, morning stiffness, joint pain, inflamed joints

Rheumatoid arthritis , a type of inflammatory arthritis, is another cause of excessive fatigue. Because joint damage can result in disability, early and aggressive treatment is the best approach for rheumatoid arthritis.

Medications that may be used early in mild RA include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs

Other drugs used in more serious forms of RA include the anti-cytokine therapies , as well as shots and other forms of treatment.

Other autoimmune disorders, such as lupus and Sjogren’s disease, may also cause fatigue.

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Snoring And Sleep Apnea: What You Should Know

Do you or your partner frequently snore while you sleep? If so, an evaluation for sleep apnea may be necessary. While not everyone who snores has sleep apnea, there are certain symptoms that often co-occur with snoring when a person has sleep apnea. Read on for important details about this disorder and its negative effects on your nighttime breathing.

How Can I Ease Or Relieve Fatigue

If a medical condition isnât causing your fatigue, lifestyle changes may improve your symptoms. To reduce fatigue, you can:

• Practice good sleep habits: Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep every night. Donât drink caffeine, use electronics, or exercise right before bed. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time every day.
• Avoid toxins: Donât use illegal drugs, and drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.
• Eat a healthy diet: A balanced diet and plenty of water will keep your body nourished and hydrated.
• Manage stress: Yoga, mindfulness, meditation and regular exercise can help you relieve stress and gain more energy.
• See your healthcare provider: Make an appointment to rule out infections, disease, illness, vitamin deficiencies and other health conditions. You should also talk to your provider about medications youâre taking to see if they are causing your symptoms.
• Exercise often: Regular exercise is crucial for a healthy lifestyle. Though it might seem counter-intuitive, vigorous exercise can help you feel more energetic once you get used to it. But exercising too much can cause fatigue, so talk to your provider about whatâs best for you.
• Maintain a healthy weight: Talk to your healthcare provider about your ideal weight, and try to stay within that range.

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Conditions Of Muscle Inflammation

Inflammatory diseases of muscle typically affect older adults and include conditions such as polymyalgia rheumatica , polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Some of these conditions respond well to steroids . Unfortunately, as explained above, steroids also cause muscle wasting and weakness.

Conditions of generalised tissue inflammation such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis can cause muscle weakness. In a small proportion of cases of rheumatoid arthritis, muscle weakness and tiredness may be the only sign of the disease for some considerable time.

Evaluation Of The Patient With Muscle Weakness

AARON SAGUIL, CPT , MC, USA, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington

Am Fam Physician. 2005 Apr 1 71:1327-1336.

The online-only version of this article offers more detailed information on additional selected causes of muscle weakness.

• References

Muscle weakness is a common complaint among patients presenting to the family physicians office. Although the cause of weakness occasionally may be apparent, often it is unclear, puzzling the physician and frustrating the patient. A comprehensive evaluation of these patients includes a thorough examination and coordination of appropriate laboratory, radiologic, electrodiagnostic, and pathologic studies.

It is essential to consider depression as a possible diagnosis several screening tools for depression have been validated for use in outpatient settings.

A = consistent, good-quality patient-oriented evidence B = inconsistent or limited-quality patient-oriented evidence C = consensus, disease-oriented evidence, usual practice, opinion, or case series. See page 1245 for more information.

Strength of Recommendations

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Muscle Damage Through Injury

There are many ways in which your muscles can be directly damaged. The most obvious is injury or trauma such as sporting injuries, pulls and sprains. In any muscle injury, bleeding from damaged muscle fibres occurs inside the muscle, followed by swelling and inflammation. This makes the muscle less strong and also painful to use. Localised pain is the primary symptom but weakness also results.

Muscle Weakness In Arms And Trunk

One of the key difficulties that ME/CFS patients face is standing , particularly standing still. For them, simply being upright can trigger a cluster of symptoms, such as dizziness, altered vision, nausea, fatigue, headache or sweating. This orthostatic intolerance can have many causes , but a a lack of endurance in the muscles of the trunk, which maintain the upright position, could be a contributing factor, as a new study shows.

For the investigation, researchers at Antwerp University Hospital recruited 72 women with ME/CFS, 30 women with osteoporosis and 55 healthy women. All underwent a timed-loaded standing test which measures how long a person can hold a 1 kg dumbbell in each hand in front of her with straight arms. This test assesses combined trunk and arm endurance, and is intended to simulate the performance of the torso during everyday activities. As expected, timed-loaded standing was significantly shorter in patients with osteoporosis than in the healthy women . In women with ME/CFS, however, timed-loaded standing was significantly lower than in either of these groups. The authors note that problems with standing upright and physical activity are similar in ME/CFS and osteoporosis patients both groups have problems keeping their spines vertical . This, and the specific biomechanical weakness identified in the women with ME/CFS, certainly needs further investigation.

1909 American edition of Sobottas Atlas and Text-book of Human Anatomy .

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How Rehab Select Can Help You Or Your Loved One Recover From Covid

At Rehab Select, we deliver individualized care plans that are designed specifically to help patients suffering from post-COVID fatigue and weakness or other lingering symptoms of a COVID-19 infection that have lasted four weeks or more. Our Alabama COVID-19 Recovery Program can help you or your loved one regain your strength and get back to normal life after COVID more quickly.

Our team of physicians, nurse practitioners, physical and occupational therapists, pulmonologists, and psychologists will design a comprehensive rehab program that targets all of your post-COVID symptoms. Through our remote telehealth system, we will be able to put you in touch with health practitioners who have developed ample experience in the treatment and rehabilitation of COVID-19 patients. To find out more, please visit our website, or click here to schedule a tour of our facilities.

Overuse/ Too Much Exercise

Feeling fatigued after vigorous exercise or working for a prolonged period can be normal for the legs. The key is to rest here, because, without proper rest, muscles, including those in the lower body can have a hard time recovering properly.

Enough rest and working within the limits of your body must be made sure. Take plenty of breaks throughout the day, if you frequently use your legs while working out. This will assist in avoiding stress, strain, and injury.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Myasthenia Gravis

Patients with MG might first notice drooping eyelids, trouble chewing and swallowing, or slurred speech. MG can also cause muscle weakness in the legs or arms it can even cause breathing problems. Typically, motor control becomes worse during periods of exertion and gets better with rest.

Sometimes periods of muscle weakness come on so suddenly that a person may have trouble breathing and will require medical assistance. This type of acute episode, called a myasthenic crisis does not occur in most cases. However, these episodes can be exacerbated by a number of factors, including pregnancy, infection, surgery, or some other trauma.

Some patients will experience symptoms involving their eyes only, which is referred to as ocular MG.