Fatigue.
Last updated Monday, January 03, 2005
CopingCoping methods
Fatigue can affect all parts of your life, but there are many things you can do to cope with it.
You can better cope with fatigue by pacing yourself, listening to your
body's signals, asking for assistance, making back-up plans, and
working in partnership with your health care providers. If the first
methods you try do not work, try other methods. The most effective way
to manage fatigue may be to use a combination of these methods:
- Follow the treatment plan you and your health care
provider agree upon. Share details with your family so they can better
understand how you're doing.
- Prepare for the ups and downs of arthritis. Plan other activities, schedules, or time for extra rest if you're feeling tired.
- Practice ways to save your energy.
- Use your fatigue as a signal. This will help control it.
- Remember that depression, pain, and fatigue are closely connected. Solving one of these problems can help you reduce the effects of the others.
- Pace your daily tasks. Break down long-term goals into small, manageable steps that can be finished in a short time.
- If you keep a journal, write about all aspects of your fatigue,
rate your fatigue on a daily basis from (0) no fatigue to (10) severe
fatigue, and monitor if the fatigue changes over time.
- Set a goal of doing one thing a day that may require a bit of
activity. Try walking around the block once, doing the TV Sit and Be
Fit program, clean one drawer out in your desk, etc. It is likely that
you will feel better when you get one thing accomplished and you will
be challenged to do it again the next day.
- Ask for help from family, friends, and co-workers.
- Work in partnership with health care providers. You can do this by:
- learning all you can about your arthritis
- following through with treatment
- reporting your progress and setbacks to your health care team
- becoming a self-manager
- keeping a positive attitude
Asking questions Asking questions and finding out as much as you can about your type of
arthritis and its treatment is important. Talk over your concerns with
your health care provider. If you still need more information for if
you have difficulty talking to your doctors ask the nurse, physical
therapist, occupational therapist, doctor, or social worker to help you
find answers to your questions.Credits Some of this material may also be available in an Arthritis Foundation
brochure. Contact the Washington/Alaska Chapter Helpline: (800)
542-0295. If dialing from outside of WA and AK, contact the National
Helpline: (800) 283-7800.
Adapted from the pamphlet originally prepared for the Arthritis
Foundation. Edited by Frederick A. Matsen III M.D. and Basia Belza,
Ph.D., RN. This material is protected by copyright. Disclaimer
This resource has been provided by the University of Washington Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine as general information only. This information may not apply to a specific patient. Additional information may be found at http://www.orthop.washington.edu or by contacting the UW Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.
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