Fatigue

Fatigue is a feeling of constant exhaustion, tiredness or weakness. It can be physical, mental, or a combination of both. Not to be mistaken with general sleepiness or physical tiredness, fatigue can happen suddenly and for no specific reason, and can take a long time to subside.

Without the right tools and management strategies, fatigue may interfere with your ability to work and get through day-to-day tasks.

How MS can cause fatigue

Research continues to better understand the links between MS and fatigue, but without an objective way to measure it in people with MS, it can be challenging to assess, understand, treat and manage.

It may be short-lived for some people, occurring during relapses, stressful periods, after medications or as a symptom of an unrelated infection or illness.

For others, fatigue can be chronic and ongoing, regardless of rest. MS fatigue is thought to be a result of a range of factors caused directly by MS (primary fatigue) and the effects of living with MS (secondary fatigue).

MS fatigue vs. feeling fatigued

Life can get busy, so it’s natural to sometimes feel run down or exhausted. This can come from stress at home or at work, a poor diet and a lack of exercise, or even just a rough night’s sleep.

The difference between feeling fatigued and MS fatigue is that MS fatigue doesn’t go away with rest. MS fatigue can be chronic, ongoing and can make it harder to engage in work, life and daily tasks.

Managing MS fatigue

If you’re experiencing MS fatigue, try these strategies to feel more energised:

• Take frequent rest breaks
• Block out your calendar/day into chunks
• Plan, prioritise tasks and pace yourself
• Eat a healthy and balanced diet (avoiding processed foods and those that are high in sugar) and drink enough water
• Engage in regular physical activity
• Resist overcommitting to social events
• Exercise in cooler environments and avoid overheating
• Try to get quality sleep

FACETS – fatigue management program

FACETS is a group-based fatigue management program specifically designed for people with MS. It combines cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques with energy conservation strategies to help manage fatigue.

The program runs over 6 weeks, with each session lasting around 90 minutes.

MS fatigue management

Presented by MS Employment Consultant, Jacqueline Efthimiou, this webinar helps explain the experience of fatigue for people living with multiple sclerosis as well as provide some strategies for managing fatigue.