Weakness Or Fatigue

Struggling with Weakness or Fatigue?

How can we help you?

Howsme are a team of experts from a variety of professional backgrounds who can give you confidential online information and support.  Whether you have a quick question or need to resolve complex issues howsme has the answers you need.  We look forward to hearing from you.

There are two different types of weakness

2. Generalised weakness (or fatigue)

Howsme can help you to manage both so let us know how you are feeling and see if we can help.

1.MUSCLE WEAKNESS

This is a lack or loss of muscle strength or difficulty moving one part of the body

What is muscle weakness?

Muscle weakness usually affects one or a group of muscles. A muscle is weak if it can't contract to the same degree as it used to and therefore isn't as strong as it used to be.

For a muscle to contract the thought needs to be generated in the brain and then passed down the spinal cord and out along the nerves.

This message then arrives in the muscle making it contract. A problem in the brain, the spinal cord, the nerve or the actual muscle can therefore cause muscle weakness.

Muscle weakness can make a limb feel heavier and may quickly affect how you live your daily life and how you are able to function.

The usual causes of muscle weakness

Muscle weakness can follow an injury or operation or be the result of gradual wear and tear.

An injury directly to the muscle, usually a strain, can bring about muscle weakness. A muscle strain occurs when the muscle has been overstretched and can range from a minor overstretch to a tearing of the muscle.

Muscle weakness can occur if the muscle isn't used or immobilised for a while. For example if you break a bone or sprain ligaments around a joint and you have to wear a splint or cast to keep it still while it repairs, the muscles in that area will start to weaken if they are not used because the muscle mass is actually reduced.

Arthritis and other joint problems can lead to gradual muscle weakness if the limb is used differently for functional activities. For example, osteoarthrits in the knee joint may cause pain on walking and so necessitate using a walking aid such as a walking stick to help take the weight off the knee when walking.

The muscles in the thigh may become weaker as a result of walking with a stick.

Other causes of muscle weakness

Problems that occur in the brain will stop the message being sent to the muscle. These can includes strokes, tumours, brain injuries and a variety of neurological diseases.

If the spinal cord has been damaged the message will not get out to the nerve.

Problems that stop the messages being carried along the nerves include slipped discs (prolapsed or ruptured intervertebral disk) and injuries such as cuts to the nerve or diabetic neuropathy.

Treatment of muscle weakness

A thorough assessment by a doctor will reveal what is causing the weakness and therefore how it can be helped. Treatment of muscle weakness will be very different depending on the cause.

The sooner a diagnosis is given, the sooner treatment can start and the better the recovery is likely to be. 

We are experts in the management of muscle weakness and we are online now waiting to offer advice and practical help.

2. GENERALISED WEAKNESS

Sometimes known as
Fatigue / Tiredness / Malaise / Exhaustion / Weariness / Lack of energy

What is generalised weakness or fatigue?

Generalised weakness is when your whole body feels to be affected by a tiredness or fatigue. It can be a very difficult condition to describe and can vary greatly from day to day.

What causes generalised weakness?

There are so many different physical and psychological reasons to feel like this that you must see a doctor so that you are know exactly what is causing you to feel weak.

Conditions range from mild reversible causes such as lack of sleep to serious medical conditions that require immediate attention.

What physical problems can be caused by generalised weakness?

Generalised weakness can quickly affect how you are able to live your life and can severely limit you're the amount of activity you can complete without feeling extremely tired.

You suddenly start to notice just how exhausting some activities are. Getting up and dressed in the morning can sometimes leave people exhausted.

What psychological problems can be caused by generalised weakness?

Depending on the cause, weakness can make you feel frustrated about not being able to be as active as you have been.

Adjusting your levels of activity can sometimes mean giving up doing some of the things you once enjoyed doing and this can be very upsetting.

Depression can cause weakness and you can become depressed as a result of feeling weak so it is very important to get a diagnosis and the correct treatment early.

Treatment of generalised muscle weakness

Treatment will depend upon what is causing the weakness and will vary greatly. Lifestyle changes such as trying to establish a better sleep pattern, maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise, relaxation and drinking enough water can help mild reversible weakness and medical help will be required for more serious causes.

Updated: 15th September 2009