Multiple sclerosis definitely causes fatigue. But so do many other conditions including cancer and heart disease.
“Fatigue is a very well-described symptom in the MS literature,” says Mitzi J. Williams, MD, clinical neurologist with Morehouse School of Medicine, an MS specialist and clinical advisor for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.
Dr. Williams explains, “It can occur very early on in the course of the disease. MS fatigue generally worsens as the day progresses.”
People with severely blocked arteries or chronic heart failure will often feel fatigue the moment they get out of bed in the morning.
Hence, there is no worsening of it as the day goes on; it’s a baseline level of energy depletion right from the start.
It may actually improve as the day goes on due to stimulating activities such as taking a walk or doing yoga.
Or, it may feel worse if one engages in heavier physical exertion. This can also apply to someone with multiple sclerosis.
Thus, levels of energy can swing in both directions depending on the individual, the activity and the environment.
Fatigue related to cancer, anemia or thyroid problems may worsen as the day goes on too, but it’ll probably be evident soon after getting out of bed in the morning.
As for the fatigue of MS, Dr. Williams continues, “People often describe it as having a finite amount of energy and once that energy has been expended (at work or doing daily activities), they hit a brick wall and they can’t do anything else.
“Depending on the person, that energy can be used up by noon or by 5 pm. Sometimes if they take a quick power nap or rest, they can ‘reset’ and get more energy for the rest of the day.”
That tactic can also work with those who have heart disease and other conditions including that of simply being out of shape.
“It is also important to remember that other factors can affect MS fatigue such as insomnia, depression, and some symptomatic medications can also cause fatigue.
“It’s important to discuss with your doctor about other factors than can worsen fatigue related to MS.”
Telling the Difference Between Fatigue from Multiple Sclerosis vs. Other Medical Conditions
Though the fatigue that comes with MS may have some tell-tale signs in some patients some of the time, the net result is that there really is no way to definitively point to the fatigue in every MS patient and declare whether it’s from this autoimmune disease and/or some other condition.
A combination of an aging body that has gotten little exercise, plus MS, can result in a lot of fatigue.
Add heart disease to that duo and you’ll get even more depletion of energy.
A newly-developing level of fatigue that seemingly cannot be explained by multiple sclerosis needs medical attention.
Don’t just brush off worsening exhaustion on MS just because you have MS.
Dr. Williams is author of “MS Made Simple: The Essential Guide to Understanding Your Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis.” She is a member of the American Academy of Neurology.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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