There are many reasons why we feel tired. This is the same in arthritis. In some forms of arthritis, tiredness is part of the illness.

In conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, sufferers are tired irrespective of whether they had a good night’s sleep.

Like pain, fatigue has a strong impact on patients. They feel exhausted and drained. They live their lives at a pace dictated by the level of their tiredness. Day to day chores become major trials.

In rheumatoid arthritis, fatigue is part of the disease process. When rheumatoid arthritis is in remission, fatigue improves but returns when there is a flare up.

Arthritis is associated with pain. Drugs used to control pain may cause tiredness. Analgesics can produce drowsiness especially the codeine based products, and anti-inflammatory drugs have light headedness as a side effect.

Constant unrelenting pain can be overbearing and lead to tiredness. In addition pain can cause disturbed sleep leaving the sufferer tired during the day.

Anaemia results in tiredness and in inflammatory arthritis, anaemia is possible.

Arthritis can lead to inactivity in that particular joint. The muscles associated with that joint can waste and become weak. This contributes to tiredness.

Long standing chronic arthritis has an impact on a person’s general well being. Anxiety may result from severity of arthritis and worry about the ability to cope in the future. Arthritis patients can become depressed. One of the symptoms of depression is tiredness.

So if you are tired, there are many reasons for this. Listed below are potential causes.

Part of the disease process.

Drugs you take could cause drowsiness.

Persistent pain could lead to tiredness.

Disturbed sleep due to pain and stiffness.

Anaemia as part of inflammatory arthritis.

Persistent pain could lead to tiredness.

Depression.

Dr. Phil Hariram,

Arthritis Guide.