Heavy lifting, excessive exercise, sitting for too long, and poor sleep can result in body pain, aching joints, and fatigue. Aches, pains, and fatigue are also symptoms of several serious medical conditions. If a little rest and pain medication does not make the symptoms go away or the symptoms are reoccurring, it is possible your pain and fatigue have a different culprit. In fact, here’s a closer look at several different conditions that cause these symptoms in the human body.
Fibromyalgia
There are 5 million people across the United States who suffer from fibromyalgia. The condition causes pain in the joints and tender muscles. Other symptoms of the condition include morning stiffness, headaches, fatigue, and mental fog. When a person experiences a fibromyalgia flare-up, finding the motivation to do just about anything is a challenge.
The biggest challenge with this particular condition is there are no tests to confirm if you suffer from it. Typically, doctors perform tests to exclude all other conditions and fall on this one when there is nothing left to diagnose you with and you have the symptoms.
Autoimmune Disorders
Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other conditions that fall into the category of an autoimmune disorder can cause body pain, extreme fatigue, and painful joints. Roughly 9 percent of the American population suffers from autoimmune disorders.
Autoimmune disorders basically encourage the body to attack itself, which causes all sorts of pain and eats away at a person’s energy level. Mouth sores, eye problems, and rashes are also common symptoms of these disorders. Unlike fibromyalgia, a doctor can run a simple blood test to diagnose whether you have an autoimmune disorder, as well as which one you have.
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory disorder that causes pain and stiffness to radiate throughout the human body, primarily attacking the hips, neck, and shoulders. This condition is common in adults over the age of 50. The pain associated with this condition is so intense it makes it hard for a person to sleep, which results in fatigue while awake.
Two percent of the American population develops polymyalgia rheumatica. Medical researchers are unsure of what causes the condition to rear its ugly head, and lab tests are not usually any help in diagnosing the condition. Some believe the immune system plays a role in the development of the condition. Fortunately, some relief is possible with low doses of steroids.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease is a bacterium spread through the human body following a tick bite. The following states are where this disease is more commonly diagnosed:
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Maryland
- Minnesota
- Pennsylvania
- Wisconsin
However, the disease possibly anywhere ticks are. A skin rash and a fever are the initial symptoms associated with this disease. Without proper treatment, the symptoms progress into joint pain, muscle tenderness, and fatigue. A blood test will confirm this diagnosis. Individuals should wear long pants and sleeves – showing as little skin as possible – when venturing through areas where ticks reside.
Unfortunately, most of these conditions do not have a cure – only treatment options, such as therapy, medications, chiropractic care, or acupuncture to ease the symptoms. If you suffer from fatigue, muscle pain, or joint pain on a regular basis, it is worth talking to a doctor about the potential causes.