MS-Related Fatigue

MS-Related Fatigue is a major component of MS.  MS-related fatigue is debilitating.  Fatigue interferes with daily life.  75% to 95% of people with MS experience fatigue.  MS fatigue occurs daily and worsens as the day progresses and is greatly heightened by heat.  It cause changes in strength, mobility, and function because it often interferes with physical activity. 

Fatigue in multiple sclerosis is unique in that it interferes with all aspects of daily living.  All people have felt fatigue as a normal consequence of physical or mental exertion and emotional stress.  This type of fatigue is restored completely with rest and / or sleep.  Not so with MS-related fatigue.  Fatigue is the most common symptom or complaint of those people with MS. 

MS-related fatigue is defined as a lack of physical and / or mental energy that is perceived by the individual or caregiver to interfere with usual or desired activities.

Ms-related fatigue is so overwhelming that it prevents those of us affected with it from carrying on with our desired lifestyle.  We have the desire to do more, but are totally and frustratingly unable to.  I experienced mental fatigue daily, as well as almost constant physical fatigue. 

I had so many great plans for what I would like to do but I was unable to maintain the level of cognitive ability and physical activity that I had in the past.  I had and have few visible physical limitations or disabilities.  But, I know that I am not the same person that I was before I had MS.  I did not have the energy that I so desperately wanted to have.  I was unable to perform all of the daily tasks to the degree that I had before MS.  It was very discouraging and frustrating.  Family and friends thought I should be able to do what everyone else my age did, but I absolutely couldn’t.

I had some good days where I would think, “This is what it is like to be normal, oh wow!  I want this all the time.” 

I must tell you that after using Copaxone I have much more energy.  I still have fatigue, but not to same degree as before.  Nor do I have all the energy as I would like to have, but I do have more than before.

Research indicates that fatigue develops independently of many other aspects of MS.  It can affect individuals with any type of MS. 

Bonnie