A surreal illustration symbolizing the struggle with chronic pain and fatigue

Tired of Being Tired? Unraveling the Mystery of Fatigue in Chronic Pain

Reese Marlowe in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover how chronic pain hijacks your energy and what you can do to reclaim your vitality."

Chronic pain is a thief. It steals your comfort, your mobility, and, perhaps most insidiously, your energy. If you live with chronic pain, you're likely no stranger to the bone-deep exhaustion that accompanies it. This isn't just ordinary tiredness; it's a profound fatigue that can make even the simplest tasks feel insurmountable.

But why do chronic pain and fatigue go hand-in-hand? The connection is more complex than you might think. It's not simply about the physical discomfort wearing you down. Instead, it involves a intricate interplay of physiological, psychological, and neurological factors.

This article dives deep into the science behind this debilitating fatigue, exploring the latest research and offering practical strategies to manage your energy and reclaim your life. Get ready to understand the 'why' behind your fatigue and, more importantly, discover what you can do about it.

The Fatigue-Pain Connection: What's Really Going On?

A surreal illustration symbolizing the struggle with chronic pain and fatigue

Research consistently shows a strong link between chronic pain and fatigue. Studies reveal that a significant portion of individuals with chronic pain also experience persistent fatigue. This co-occurrence isn't a coincidence; several factors contribute to this intertwined relationship:

The scientific research shows that individuals who suffer with fatigue report higher instances of chronic pain and lower quality of life. It also appears that fatigue develops as a result of chronic pain and pain management. In order to understand the complexities and intersections of chronic pain and fatigue, it is helpful to breakdown some common factors.

The Energy Drain of Pain: Constant pain signals put your body in a state of perpetual high alert. This chronic stress response burns through energy reserves, leaving you feeling depleted.
Inflammation's Role: Chronic pain is often associated with systemic inflammation, which can disrupt energy production and contribute to fatigue.
Sleep Disruption: Pain can significantly interfere with sleep, making it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. Poor sleep quality exacerbates fatigue and reduces overall resilience.
The Mental Load: Coping with chronic pain takes a significant mental toll. The stress, anxiety, and depression that often accompany chronic pain can further drain your energy.
Executive Control: People suffering with chronic pain, must use "executive control" of the brain to regulate it. However, that part of the brain can only be strained for so long, as it requires mental focus and energy. Once it has been exhausted the fatigue kicks in.
Reward Pathways: Chronic pain can disrupt dopamine and how the brain processes pleasure or reward. This can result in someone not getting enough satisfaction from goal oriented behaviour, leading to a sense of fatigue.

Understanding these factors is the first step toward effectively managing fatigue associated with chronic pain. It's about addressing the root causes rather than simply masking the symptoms.

Reclaiming Your Energy: Practical Strategies for Managing Fatigue

While the connection between chronic pain and fatigue can feel overwhelming, there's hope. By adopting a multi-faceted approach that addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of your condition, you can begin to reclaim your energy and improve your quality of life. Remember to consult with healthcare professionals to develop a personalized plan that's right for you.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001054, Alternate LINK

Title: Tired Of Pain? Toward A Better Understanding Of Fatigue In Chronic Pain

Subject: Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Journal: Pain

Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)

Authors: Stefaan Van Damme, Susanne Becker, Dimitri Van Der Linden

Published: 2017-09-01

Everything You Need To Know

What is the core connection between chronic pain and fatigue?

Chronic pain and fatigue often co-occur due to a complex interplay of factors. Constant pain signals trigger a chronic stress response, draining energy reserves. Systemic inflammation, sleep disruption, the mental toll of coping with pain, the use of executive control, and disrupted reward pathways all contribute to this intertwined relationship. These elements work together to create the debilitating fatigue experienced by many individuals with chronic pain.

How does the body's response to chronic pain directly lead to fatigue?

The body's response to chronic pain is a primary driver of fatigue. Constant pain signals put the body in a state of 'perpetual high alert', which burns through energy reserves. The body directs resources to manage the physical and mental aspects of the pain, leading to energy depletion. This heightened state, coupled with sleep disruption and the mental load, intensifies fatigue.

What role does inflammation play in the fatigue experienced by those with chronic pain?

Inflammation is a significant factor in the fatigue associated with chronic pain. Chronic pain often leads to systemic inflammation, which disrupts energy production within the body. This disruption can hinder the efficiency of cellular processes, leading to fatigue. Managing inflammation is therefore a key step in managing fatigue.

How does the mental load of managing chronic pain contribute to fatigue, and what specific brain function is involved?

Coping with chronic pain demands a significant mental effort, thereby contributing to fatigue. The constant stress, anxiety, and potential depression that often accompany chronic pain further drain energy. Moreover, the use of 'executive control' is essential for regulating the pain itself, but prolonged use exhausts this brain function, intensifying fatigue. Executive control involves focusing mental resources, which, when depleted, can leave a person feeling exhausted.

Besides physical factors, how do disruptions in the brain's reward pathways contribute to fatigue in chronic pain sufferers?

Disruptions in the brain's reward pathways, particularly those involving dopamine, can contribute to fatigue. Chronic pain can interfere with how the brain processes pleasure and reward, leading to a reduced sense of satisfaction from goal-oriented behavior. This, in turn, can result in a sense of fatigue. The inability to experience typical rewards can create a cycle of decreased motivation and increased exhaustion.