Although there is not a clearly defined treatment for post-stroke fatigue, there are some practical steps you can take to reduce and manage your fatigue.
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- To request a braille copy, email helpline@stroke.org.uk
On this page:
Causes of post-stroke fatigue
Pace, plan and prioritise
Tips for managing post-stroke fatigue
Find out the cause of your fatigue
Try to find out if there are any treatable causes for your fatigue. It’s important to get individual advice from a GP or other health professional, to ensure you have identified any underlying health problems. Your GP can check if you have any medical conditions that could be making you feel tired.
Ask the GP for a review of your current medication. If your fatigue is at least partly caused by side effects of your medication, it usually improves with time or once you start a new medication. Do not stop taking any medication without speaking to your GP first.
Help others understand your fatigue
Your tiredness may not be obvious to other people so they may not understand how you feel. This may be frustrating for you. Talk to your family and friends to help them understand what you are going through. They can offer you support with your recovery and dealing with tasks.
Our Stroke Support Helpline can also offer support if you are finding things tough.
Pace, plan and prioritise (the ‘three Ps’)
Think about the ‘three Ps’ to help you learn to manage your fatigue. Fatigue can follow a pattern. Learning to understand this can help you make the most of your energy.
- Pace: thinking about how you can take things step-by-step at a manageable speed, without triggering your fatigue.
- Plan: working out what you want to do, and planning when and how you can do it.
- Prioritise: deciding which activities are important to you, and which ones you can leave or get some help with.
Do not make it hard for yourself by trying to do all the things you used to do. You might need to slow down to save your energy. It can be tempting to try to do too much if you’re having a ‘better day’, but this may leave you exhausted for the next day or two.
Take proper breaks before or after doing things. Even gentle activities like talking with friends, a car journey or eating a meal can be tiring.
Visit the Royal College of Occupational Therapists website for more practical tips on managing daily life with fatigue.
The fatigue is part of everyday life which I’ve learned to live with. You have to remain positive. Determination is key. I’ve never accepted the effects of stroke, but I’ve adapted to them.
Andrew M, stroke survivor
More tips for managing post-stroke fatigue
Give yourself plenty of time to recover from your stroke. It can take many months before post-stroke fatigue starts to lift. Accepting it takes time to improve can help you cope better.
Find out how much you can do in a day and stick to it. For example, if you can achieve about four hours of activity a day with rests in between, without being too tired, then that’s the right level for you. If you do too much, you may find you need to rest more or spend a day in bed to recover.
Try to do some exercise, as this may help to improve fatigue. Start gently, such as with a very short walk or a few minutes on an exercise bike. Slowly build it up without overdoing it. Ask a physiotherapist for help with this. Our getting active page has ideas on being more active, including our online fitness classes.
Build up stamina and strength slowly or you may feel you are going backwards if your fatigue worsens. Increase your activity gradually.
Keep a diary of what you are doing, even if it’s just a few notes or a photograph each day. Over time, this really helps to remind you of your progress. It will help you understand how much activity you can cope with and what triggers your fatigue.
Many people feel frustrated by what they cannot do and forget to feel good about what they can do.