Burden of pain and fatigue

What is it?

Chronic pain and fatigue are often overlapping conditions that persist for months, significantly affecting a person’s physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Chronic pain refers to ongoing discomfort that continues beyond normal healing time, while fatigue is a persistent exhaustion that doesn’t improve with rest. These symptoms often occur together in conditions like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), autoimmune disorders, and nerve-related pain syndromes. The impact can be disabling and wide-ranging—disrupting sleep, mood, energy, focus, and day-to-day functioning.

Prevalence and statistics

• Around 20% of adults worldwide experience chronic pain.

• Up to 40% of people with chronic pain also report significant fatigue.

• Chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) affects about 0.2–0.4% of the population.

• Women are 2–4 times more likely to develop fibromyalgia or ME/CFS.

• Chronic pain is a leading cause of disability, with high rates of co-occurring depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders.

• Costs due to treatment and productivity loss are in the hundreds of billions globally.

How to identify?

Emotional signs –

• Irritability, mood swings or emotional exhaustion

• Feelings of frustration, helplessness or guilt

• Anxiety and depression related to ongoing pain and low energy

Physical signs –

• Ongoing pain—burning, aching, stiffness or sharp sensations associated with pain

• Constant tiredness even after sleep or rest

• Sleep issues and non-refreshing sleep

• Reduced physical stamina and mobility

Behavioural signs –

• Withdrawal from physical activity, work and social activities

• Increased reliance on rest and relatives for daily activity. This leads to guilt

• Avoiding movement or exertion to avoid flare-ups

Cognitive signs –

• Brain fog—difficulty thinking clearly or remembering things

• Catastrophic thinking (e.g., “I’ll never feel better”)

• Overwhelm from even small tasks due to low mental stamina

Common Conditions Involving Pain and Fatigue:

• Pain and fatigue of psychological origin (no identifiable physical cause exists). Generally associated with mental health issue

• Fibromyalgia – Widespread pain with fatigue, poor sleep, and cognitive difficulties

• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) – Debilitating fatigue worsened by exertion, not relieved by rest

• Lupus & Rheumatoid Arthritis – Autoimmune diseases involving joint pain and severe tiredness

• Multiple Sclerosis (MS) – Neurological condition with pain, weakness, and overwhelming fatigue

• Neuropathic Pain – Nerve-related pain (e.g., diabetic neuropathy, post stroke or any injury) often paired with low energy

• Post-viral fatigue – Lingering fatigue and pain after infections (e.g., long COVID)

• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) – Severe pain after injury, often with fatigue and nerve sensitivity

  
  

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