Psoriatic Arthritis: How to Fight Back at Fatigue

When Alisha Alvarez, 31, was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in 2018, she and her doctors were focused mainly on the joint pain in her knees that made it difficult for her to move around and walk. But within a year, she had another troubling symptom to contend with: fatigue.

It’s also important to understand psoriatic arthritis fatigue itself, versus just being tired. “Normally, when someone is tired, they’ll take a nap, or get a good night’s sleep, and feel better,” says Kapoor. “But this is a whole other level of fatigue. It’s the exhaustion you feel when, say, you’ve got a viral illness such as the flu. It really knocks you out.”

Almost 70% of people with PsA, for example, report poor sleep quality. “We know poor sleep is linked to increased pain and inflammation, which in turn then worsens fatigue,” says Kapoor. “It becomes a vicious cycle.” One way she has done that is to stay as active as she can. She plays tennis twice a week and goes to Pilates three times a week. On days where she doesn’t have an actual workout planned, she and her wife go for walks. “When I move around, I often do feel better,” she says. “When I get my blood flowing, it energizes me. I feel more alert.” Research also shows that there are clear benefits to staying active with psoriatic arthritis, including decreased fatigue.

Alvarez has also made some work modifications to help her cope with fatigue. She usually works from home to conserve energy. She also paces herself. “I plan often a week in advance what I’m going to do,” she says. “I ask myself, ‘is it worth it to go out on Thursday night with friends, if I’m going to be exhausted on Friday?’ Usually, the answer is no. If I do travel for work, then I make sure that the first few days after I return, I can rest quietly at home to let my body recover.

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