Fatigue is not the same as being sleepy or having feelings of exhaustion. It’s actually a term used to describe feelings of tiredness and an overwhelming sense that you have no energy or motivation to keep moving through your day.
Many of us struggle with fatigue and blame it on not getting enough sleep, but that is not always the true culprit behind our sluggishness. Sometimes, chronic pain is the underlying cause of fatigue.
Living with chronic pain can decrease your activity levels but it can also limit tolerance to activity. The end result is a weakened body with a constant feeling of fatigue. There are multiple other influences on fatigue when living with chronic pain, medications, and demands for activity.
If you’re experiencing pain and fatigue, a Partners in Physical Therapy physical therapist can help you figure out the underlying cause and feel better. Call our clinic in Lake Charles, LA to schedule your appointment today.
Identifying fatigue
Creakyjoints.com lists questions you should ask yourself when wondering if your problem is tiredness or if you’re dealing with fatigue:
- “Do you wake up tired even after a full night’s sleep?
- Do you find it difficult to muster energy for activities you enjoy and are excited about?
- Do you forego important daily activities, like showering or work, because you’re just too exhausted to do them?
- Do you sleep more than seven to eight hours a night (and still wake up tired)?
- Has the exhaustion lasted more than a week?”
These are all common indicators that there is an underlying cause to the way you are feeling. One reason may be due to a chronic pain condition.
The link between chronic pain and fatigue
Dealing with pain is hard. It makes it difficult to get a good night’s rest or to relax after a long day of work, which can leave you feeling absolutely battered and drained of energy. Finding ways to better manage your pain levels can help manage fatigue.
Inflammation is another reason for fatigue. Creakyjoints.org states: “The inflammation that is at the root of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and lupus is directly related to fatigue.
One of the best ways to deal with your fatigue is to do everything you can to manage the underlying inflammation. This means following your treatment plan, taking your medications, avoiding triggers as best as you can, and making time for adequate rest.”
No matter what the cause of your fatigue is, it’s a good idea to see a physical therapist in Lake Charles, LA to learn how to better manage your symptoms.
How can physical therapy help?
Some individuals dealing with fatigue can develop chronic fatigue syndrome. Pain, weakness, and fatigue are all symptoms of this syndrome, and a physical therapist at Partners in Physical Therapy can help by assessing you for other conditions such as depression.
They can also help to improve your strength, stamina, and endurance levels so that you struggle less from day to day to stay motivated and keep moving.
Treatment may also include manual therapy to relieve stress in the body, education on ways to conserve your energy, and moving/strengthening exercises to perform that can reduce your pain.
Call our clinic today
When it comes to fatigue, the problem is more than “just being a little tired.” Let a physical therapist at Partners in Physical Therapy take a look today, and help you to start feeling better, with less pain and more energy to get through your day. Call our clinic in Lake Charles, LA to schedule an appointment.
