Management of MS-Related Fatigue

FATIGUE is the most common MS symptom—experienced by 75 to 95% of people with the disease. Approximately 50 to 60% of people with MS describe fatigue as one of their most troubling symptoms, regardless of their disease course or level of disability. The Social Security Administration recognizes fatigue as a significant cause of unemployment among people with MS.

Fatigue was recently defined by the Fatigue Management Panel of the Multiple Sclerosis Council on Clinical Practice Guidelines as:

A subjective lack of physical and/or mental energy that is perceived by the individual or caregiver to interfere with usual and desired activities.

RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on clinical experience and careful review of the medical literature and research findings pertaining to MS-related fatigue, the Medical Advisory Board of the National MS Society makes the following recommendations:

* Because of the complexity of MS-related fatigue, the first step in effective treatment is to identify the cause(s) of the fatigue (e.g., any combination of factors, including co-existing medical illnesses, side effects of medications, depression, disrupted sleep, and fatigue caused by the MS itself.

* Once the source(s) of the fatigue have been identified, the treatment of MS-related fatigue is approached in a step-wise fashion in order to address all contributing factors.

The treatment of fatigue should include TWO major steps:

1. Management and elimination of any secondary causes of fatigue

2. Treatment of primary MS fatigue


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How to Manage MS-Related Fatigue