MS Fighter

The word “fatigue” could be used as the single word answer if the question would be the following: “Could you describe MS in one word?”. I will use this word a lot, so let’s talk about it. When it comes to MS, fatigue isn’t just about being tired. It’s not like the kind of fatigue you get after a long day at work or a tough workout. No, MS fatigue hits different, it is something entirely different, and it can often feel like a weight you can’t shake, no matter how much you rest. But understanding the difference between normal fatigue and MS fatigue can help you better manage it and train smarter.

Normal fatigue

Normal fatigue is the kind of tiredness you experience after physical exertion, mental stress, or lack of sleep. It’s a natural response to your body working hard or pushing past its usual limits.

🔴  Symptoms 

• Feeling tired after a long day at work or an intense physical or mental activity.
• A need for rest or sleep to recharge.
• You may feel drained, but once you sleep or take it easy, you generally feel better.

🟢  Recovery

• Sleep or a rest day generally does the trick.
• You might feel drained, but after a period of recovery, you bounce back with your usual energy levels.

Normal fatigue is temporary and responds to regular recovery methods. Once you get a good nights’ sleep or take a break, you generally feel recharged and ready to go again.

MS fatigue

MS fatigue is far more complex and pervasive. It’s not simply the result of overworking your body or mind, it’s an intrinsic part of the diagnosis itself. For many with MS, fatigue is one of the most debilitating symptoms, often having a much deeper, longer-lasting effect than normal tiredness. People with no MS can’t imagine the fatigue and I am personally tired of the BS like: “You slept during the whole night so how can you be still tired?”

🔴  Symptoms 

• Overwhelming exhaustion that comes on suddenly, even without exertion.
• It can feel as though you’ve run a marathon, even after just walking across the room or sitting still for a while.
• MS fatigue is unpredictable and can come on at any time, often with little warning (and you are “the lucky one” if you get any warning at all).
• Physical symptoms like muscle weakness or heaviness, making it feel like lifting or moving is thousands of times harder than usual.
• Mental fatigue or “brain fog”, a cognitive exhaustion that affects memory, concentration, and mental clarity.

🟢  Recovery

• MS fatigue doesn’t go away with sleep or rest alone. While rest is important, it’s not always a cure. You might wake up feeling just as tired as you were the day before.
• The recovery process is more complicated and requires strategic management, such as energy conservation techniques, mindful movement, and the right nutrition to combat the fatigue.

The Difference: Why MS Fatigue Hits Harder

Duration & Severity

Normal fatigue comes and goes and is often linked to a specific event or exertion. MS fatigue, however, can feel like a constant, low-level drain on your energy. It’s like trying to run with weights attached to your body all the time, sometimes it’s a light drag, other times it feels like you’re stuck in quicksand.

Cause

Normal fatigue usually stems from physical activity, stress, or lack of sleep. MS fatigue, on the other hand, is caused by dysfunction in the central nervous system, where nerve signals are disrupted by damaged myelin. This results in physical and mental exhaustion, even when the body hasn’t exerted itself.

Mental impact

MS fatigue if often coupled with brain fog, making it harder to think clearly or stay focused. You can feel mentally wiped out, disconnected, or just unable to concentrate. Normal fatigue usually doesn’t have this cognitive side effect, it’s more of a straightforward physical tiredness.

How to manage MS fatigue during training

Managing MS fatigue doesn’t mean stopping your workouts, it means adapting and working with your body, not against it. Here are some of strategies I use to train smart while dealing with MS fatigue:

   ➀ Pacing your workouts

On days when MS fatigue is heavy, I don’t go full throttle. Instead, I modify my intensity, focus on mobility, and use lighter weights (although I must be honest, I hate it as we all love progressively overload). The goal is quality over quantity, so I get the most out of each movement without over-exerting myself.

   ➁ Take more frequent brakes than usual

When I’m lifting, I don’t rush through my sets. I take breaks between exercises to allow my body to recover, even if it’s just for 30 seconds. I don’t push until exhaustion because I know that pacing is the key.

   ➂ Active recovery

Recovery isn’t just about rest days, it’s about active rest. Low-intensity activities like stretching, yoga, and walking are excellent for keeping the body moving without exacerbating fatigue.

   ➃ Manage mental fatigue

When the brain fog kicks in, I focus on simplifying my workouts, fewer decisions to make and less mental strain. I keep a set routine, and if I need to cut my workout short, I don’t beat myself up about it.

   ➄ Listen to your body

Some days, MS fatigue will hit extra hard and there’s no way around it. When that happens, I listen to my body. I scale back, focus on my recovery, and trust that I’ll be back at it when I’m able to. Consistency is more important than perfection.

The key to managing MS fatigue while training is understanding what you’re dealing with and adapting your approach to meet your body where it’s at. Normal fatigue is something you recover from with rest. MS fatigue, though, requires a different mindset, it’s about pacing, adapting, and finding strategies that allow you to keep moving forward, even on the tough days. 

In the end, the fight against MS fatigue isn’t about ignoring it or pretending it’s not there, it’s about accepting it, respecting it, and working around it. When you do that, you can keep lifting, keep pushing, and keep getting stronger.

Stay tuned for more strategies on how to manage fatigue while still getting the most out of your workouts. You’ve got this!