I can feel fine and then get suddenly so tired i can barely keep my eyes open. this is often accompanied by muscle weakness and sometimes my eyes get very dry and then stream with water. i am also increasingly getting joint pains and muscle cramps.
Answered by: Maria/MD Health Forum.com Team
Thank you for your question. Your symptoms need to be carefully evaluated by a physician because there are many health problems that have the same manifestation. Muscle weakness alone could indicate presence of inflammatory, rheumatologic, metabolic or neurological disorders.
Fatigue also has many causes. It could be related to physical activities such as habits or routines, this may be resolved by making some lifestyle changes. In some cases, however, fatigue could indicate an underlying health problem such as psychological or medical conditions. Examples of disorders that may cause fatigue include anemia, chronic fatigue syndrome, under-active thyroid, and heart disease.
Your health history, pattern and severity of symptoms, medication use, as well as diseases that run in your family will help your doctor determine whether the weakness is related to infection, nerve problems, inflammation, rheumatologic disorders or metabolic conditions. Abnormal levels of substances such as potassium and calcium are also known to cause muscle symptoms such as weakness and cramps. Physical examination is very important in evaluating muscle symptoms. Your doctor will check for loss of muscle strength, assess nerve function, and possible involvement of other structures such as joints, tendons, and ligaments.
Laboratory or imaging procedures may be ordered depending on the suspected cause. I’ve read that discomfort in the joints and dryness of the eyes could indicate rheumatoid arthritis, an inflammatory disorder that affects the lining of the joints. Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease, this means that the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s own tissues. The manifestation of this disorder is not limited to joint discomfort, it can affect the whole body as well, producing symptoms such fever and fatigue.
If rheumatoid arthritis is suspected, blood test and imaging procedures such as x-ray or magnetic resonance imaging may be requested by the doctor. In the blood test, the markers for inflammation, rheumatoid factor, and antibodies will be checked.
I hope that you would get to consult with your doctor soon. Tiredness and joint discomfort may significantly affect how a person carries out activities of daily living. The sooner you consult with your doctor, the sooner you would find out what has been contributing to your symptoms and the treatment options that would work best for you.
This blog entry is for your general information only. I recommend that you talk to your own doctor about your symptoms.
References:
http://www.aafp.org/afp/2005/0401/p1327.html
http://www.usmedicine.com/articles/detecting-rheumatoid-arthritis-early-is-critical-to-ensure-quality-of-life.html
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/rheumatoid-arthritis/DS00020
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