Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fatigue

Is rheumatoid arthritis causing you to feel fatigue? Are you unable to do all that you used to do? How do you cope with rheumatoid arthritis fatigue?

It is important to determine if your fatigue is from anemia or some other treatable cause. Blood tests when you visit your physician can show if you are anemic. Your doctor can recommend changes in diet to combat anemia or prescribe supplements if that is necessary.

Some of the rheumatoid arthritis treatments cause fatigue simply because of how they work to combat the disease. This becomes a fact of life in order to control the disease, remain pain free, and prevent damage to the joints.

So how do you deal with this fatigue? Regular exercise is a good start to dealing with fatigue. Now you are thinking that you are too tired to exercise. But fitness experts agree that exercise boosts your energy level. So start walking if you can or simply do calisthenics or isometric exercises if you can't. The calisthenics and isometric exercises are great even if you can do more strenuous exercise because they strengthen the muscles that support the joints. Start slowly with your doctor's guidance and see how much more energetic you feel.

Secondly, you must admit that you now need more rest and plan your day accordingly. Find times during the day for short power naps to resupply your energy levels. Plan your daily activities so that you do one physically exerting activity followed by an activity that you can do sitting down. Perhaps you could sweep the floors or walk the yard with the weed-eater and then follow that with sitting and folding clothes or mowing the grass sitting on a riding lawnmower.

Even planning your week with the knowledge that you fatigue more easily will help you to get through the week and still accomplish all the tasks required of you. If you can't spread physically exerting activities across the week with some each day, then plan your week so that one day of exerting activities is followed by a day of mentally challenging (but not physically active) activities.

Rheumatoid arthritis fatigue is a common problem from all who suffer from it. But it doesn't have to ruin your life. A little planning and forethought along with the realization that you can handle this change will keep you functioning and depression free as you manage your fatigue.