Lack of energy

Hi , sorry to hear that you're struggling so much. I think a lot of us here will be able to relate to this lack of energy. It can be truly debilitating. Do you think your PsA is flaring or is the lack of energy always this bad? Personally, when I'm feeling like that I take it as a sign that I just need to rest. Feeling this way and being forced to rest can be very frustrating though.


Here's an article which looks at managing PsA fatigue, which I thought may be helpful: https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/psa-symptoms/fatigue Personally, the only thing that really seems to have helped me is treating my psoriatic arthritis with medication. I also wanted to share the following forum discussion on motivation, just in case you're looking for some inspiration: https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/forums/motivation If you haven't done so already, we would encourage you to check in with your doctor about this. They might have some suggestions or want to investigate further.


I hope others will chime in with their experiences and suggestions here. Hoping today is kind to you, Ron K! Warmly, -Catherine, Community Moderator

A few years ago I used to find merely taking a shower in the morning necessitated a nap followed by rest for the remainder of the day. Or walking 30 feet down the hall from bedroom to kitchen felt like I had been on an all day uphill hike. This was quite distressing because I had always been a highly active and motivated person. I tried to explain it away to myself, blaming this or that, a lot of stress was going on in my life at the time. But it was bone crushing fatigue. Then one day it dawned on me that Psoriatic Spondylitis is constantly wearing down my body and, being a long time athletic person, even though I wasn't nearly as active anymore, my body needed extra fuel to recover what was slowly, painfully, eroding away by disease. Time for a life shift. My body needed me to improve my nutrition. I added at least 40 grams of protein and 6 extra servings of fresh or frozen fruits and veggies, additional probiotics, and 20 to 30 extra ounces of water a day. I also cut my saturated and trans fats to no more than 10-12 grams a day and no more alcohol, not even one glass of wine. That made a significant impact on my energy levels on a daily basis. I strictly follow a NO, not low, FODMAP diet. My extra protein servings come from hydrolyzed (better bioavailability) collagen peptides. My better probiotics are by Garden of Life. It's a sacrifice, giving up vices, but one well worth my quality of life. I sleep better too now. Hope this helps!

I think you'll find that, even though diet plans can be highly individualized, the advice here is sound. When it comes to PsA, particularly the fatigue aspect, diet matters. Processed carbs and added sugars, alcohol, tobacco, saturated and trans fats, and highly processed foods can all exacerbate your symptoms, driving inflammation, pain, and fatigue. This disease, much like diabetes, requires lifestyle changes, in addition to medication, to truly manage.