Muscle Pain & Weakness
Most everyone has felt some muscle aches after a day working in the yard or a hike. But the pain and weakness that may come with lupus aren’t from overuse but from the disease itself.
As a Type A person, I never really knew what it meant to pace myself! But these muscle aches are forcing me to slow down a bit.
Muscle pain and weakness, caused by inflammation, may be part of your lupus disease activity. For people living with lupus, muscle pain and weakness are also often side effects of their medications.
If you’re feeling this kind of pain and weakness, talk to your doctor. Any new symptom—or flare of an old symptom—may mean your lupus is active in your body. And that can mean long-term damage to your organs.
68%
pain
53%
weakness
Over half of people living with lupus report having muscle pain and/or weakness.
To better cope with muscle issues, first talk to your doctor. They may recommend that you pace yourself. Activity-rest cycling is a way of balancing being active enough without overdoing it and getting enough, but not too much, rest. Plan your daily activities to include both stretches of moderate activity and moments of rest.
You can also use the power of your mind when facing chronic muscle pain. Try distracting yourself by counting backward, picturing your favorite place in your mind, or repeating a calming phrase or sentence to yourself.
Persistent pain can often keep you from some of your favorite activities. Identify—and even write down—a few things that mean the most to you, whether that’s a trip to the mall, walking your dog, or baking cookies. Then plan and set time aside for your favorite activity each week. Having it on your schedule can help you actually make time for it. And having your mind focused on it ahead of time can often make a difference in feeling up for it when the day arrives.
Trying to keep up with your symptoms?
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Learn more about these symptoms.
Fatigue
Joint Pain
Skin Rashes
Hair Loss
Mouth Sores
Brain Fog
Kidney Issues
Depression
& Anxiety
Muscle Pain
& Weakness
Heart Issues
Weight
Changes
