While it is true that there are lipomas that can persist asymptomatic throughout life, most of them will evolve and give rise to these symptoms, so doctors generally recommend a treatment, which will be preventive or prophylactic in those patients who have no symptoms or have not yet developed them, and who can be effective in controlling some of these symptoms that these patients may have already developed at diagnosis. Spinal lipomas are a type that causes low back pain in young patients and it may appear even when they are at rest or when a physical activity is performed. Liposuction. When to see a doctor A lipoma is rarely a serious medical condition. The physician will inject a local anaesthetic around the lipoma, then make an incision in the skin, remove the growth and close the incision with stitches. The lipomas may occur anywhere on the body and can cause severe pain. Contact the UPMC Department of Neurosurgery To make an appointment or ask a question: Call us at 412-647-3685. Sometimes, more than one will develop. Gupta VK, et al. The term lipoma is only used due to its palpitating nature over the region. It is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as medical advice or a diagnosis of any health or fitness problem, condition or disease; or a recommendation for a specific test, doctor, care provider, procedure, treatment plan, product, or course of action. this can cause pain and damage , along with bowel and bladder problems, so i would get a second apenion, and a mri, it has only been 8weaks since katelynns surgery and she already has reduced pain and an improved gait. The most effective treatments are those that target specific symptoms and severity, depending on the severity and type of symptoms. When symptoms occur, you may notice swelling (edema) or a soft lump underneath your skin that moves. Electrical stimulation was performed in a "surrounding" distribution, with the lipoma in the center of a circle of points. After being concerned with 2 lumps on my lower back area (above the tailbone) I went and saw my general physician and he diagnosed them as lipomas. 1990;38(2):339-347. In this special Missouri Medicine report, doctors examine advances in diagnosis and treatment of this devastating and costly neurodegenerative disease. Rotated C2 can cause compression of the spinal accessory nerve cause cramping into the sternocleidomastoid muscle or the trapezius muscle and creating a situation of torticollis. Fruits and vegetables have antioxidants which help lower fats in the blood. You may have pain, swelling, or bruising where the lipoma was removed. Neurofibromatosis 1. Treatment for a lipoma that is causing pain is typically surgery to remove the tumor. The right basal ganglia and thalamus were both altered by brain-derived imaging as a result of encephalomalacic changes. Form unsightly lumps Cause excruciating pain The pain associated with back mice results from pressure being placed on the lump, which compresses the nerves. Episacral lipoma occurs as a result of tears in the thoracodorsal fascia and subsequent herniation of a portion of the underlying dorsal fat pad through the tear. Mayo Clinic; 2021. Diffuse intramuscular lipoma responsible monomelic hypertrophy. The only cure for lipomas Though lipomas are not dangerous, many people opt to have the growths removed for cosmetic reasons. I do have more that have formed but not where the others were. Some great examples of fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants are blueberries, raspberries, apples, plums, citrus fruits, leafy green vegetables, squash and bell peppers. 2016 Mar;19(3):181-8. When these lipomas produce symptoms, it is easy to detect a weakness of the lower limbs, an orthopedic alteration or the presence of these cutaneous stigmas, which together will lead doctors to the diagnosis. In seemingly unrelated parts of the body (referred pain) Treatment focuses on relieving pain and getting tight fascia and muscle fibers to relax. Lipomas are typically not harmful or painful in any way and simply present themselves as a palpable lump under the skin. Episakral lipoma: Bel arsnn tedavi edilebilir bir nedeni [Episacral lipoma: a treatable cause of low back pain]. I wanted them removed since I have concerns about cancer - my sister died two years ago from breast cancer. Our certified dermatologists examine the lipoma and will decide the best course of action to take to remove it. Your healthcare provider may monitor the tumor for signs of growth or changes. Following surgery, a left hip ROM of 110 degrees was improved, as well as neuropathic pain in his left leg, within one week. Eat more fish. What causes a hard lump on the back? Episacral lipoma is a small, tender subcutaneous nodule primarily occurring over the posterior iliac crest. Endometriosis Hip Pain: Nerve Symptoms and Relief, Epidural Steroid Injections for Back Pain, When to Worry vs. Not Worry About Lumps Under Your Skin, Sebaceous Cysts: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment, What to Know About Chiropractic Care for Ankylosing Spondylitis, The best-laid plans of "back mice" and men: A case report and literature review of episacroiliac lipoma, The role of episacroiliac lipomas as a cause of pseudolumbago-sciatica syndromes, Subfascial fat herniation: sonographic features of back mice, Episakral lipoma: Bel arsnn tedavi edilebilir bir nedeni [Episacral lipoma: a treatable cause of low back pain], Herniation of fascial fat: A cause of low back pain. If you have a lipoma, consult with your doctor. Read More Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. The most common location of intramedicinal lipomas in the limbs is the thighs and shoulders. Medical options include pain relievers, physical therapy and . Goldblum JR, et al. 2020; doi.org/10.1007/s12105-020-01155-x. Discover the common causes of headaches and how to treat headache pain. Treatment generally isnt necessary, but if the lipoma bothers you, is painful or is growing, you may want to have it removed. Unfortunately, the answer is usually no, the procedure will not be covered. Elsevier 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Choose brightly colored fruits and vegetables for the highest level of antioxidants. We disclaim all responsibility for the professional qualifications and licensing of, and services provided by, any physician or other health providers posting on or otherwise referred to on this Site and/or any Third Party Site. Neem oil is an astringent that helps protect your skin. Accessed Aug. 20, 2022. They're harmless and do not usually need any treatment. It is a pain with mechanical characteristics and it presents when the patient is sitting or doing any trunk flexion or extension. 4. The presence of lipomas can have a negative impact on a wide range of body parts. They are inherited (passed down through families). Infiltrating tumors have a 50% to 80% recurrence rate after surgical removal. It is critical for doctors to recognize the importance of physical examination in determining the diagnosis of rare cases like this one. Get To Know What Possibly Could Be Causing Your Symptoms! Neoplasms of the spine can be categorized as primary tumors or metastatic tumors. Gilchrist JM, et al. Its not clear for sure what causes them. They argue that it may lead to misdiagnoses or incorrect treatment. They may be smaller than half an inch (1 centimeter) or as large as 10 inches (25 centimeters). However, it is common for them to not cause pain or other problems. Hi. Lipomas can be painful if they grow and press on nearby nerves or if they contain many blood vessels. While a lipoma/back mouse is the most obvious explanation, your healthcare provider may finalize diagnosis by ruling out other causes such as: Painful lipomas are also associated with fibromyalgia, a chronic condition that involves abnormal pain signals. If one hurts doctor can take it out surgically with a small cut. This article on Epainassist.com has been reviewed by a medical professional, as well as checked for facts, to assure the readers the best possible accuracy. There are patients who present symptoms from birth, including orthopedic deformities or weaknesses in the muscles of the legs. Kokkalis ZT, et al. If the back mice are smaller, more extensive, and more fluid, liposuction may be effective. if removed? You also may get pain relief from a massage therapist who's familiar with the condition. There is no need for a treatment. These slow-growing, benign fatty tumors form soft, lobulated masses enclosed by a thin, fibrous capsule. If left untreated, a spinal tumor can cause long-term spine damage. I am a 22 year old women, petite 5'2, 105lbs and I have been having severe lower back pain for 15 weeks. Some schwannomas grow and form unusual shapes within the spine or pelvis, such as dumbbell tumors. Finally, when the lipoma has been symptomatic for a long time, it can lead to deformities of the spine, such as scoliosis. Physiopedia is not a substitute for professional advice or expert medical services from a qualified healthcare provider. In its most recent incarnation, the term reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (CRPS) refers to a chronic neurological inflammation pain condition characterized by complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). For instance, an adult or adolescents patients the most common symptom is low back pain. What causes a lipoma? Anne Asher, ACE-certified personal trainer, health coach, and orthopedic exercise specialist, is a back and neck pain expert. Lipoma? Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Unless it's causing pain or making it difficult to move, there's no reason to remove a lipoma, as these growths are benign. Can a lipoma swell up and down often without any pain?its on top of the bone at top of spine/base of neck and coz of it position it gets aggravated. A maximal level of assistance was required. There are many types of hemangiomas, and they can occur throughout the body, including in skin, muscle, bone, and internal organs. Can Helicobacter pylori be caused by stress? Theres no evidence of an intramuscular lipoma ever being anything but benign (not cancerous). Steroid medications may be prescribed to shrink the size of the lipoma. You may better understand this condition when you break down the terms: Intramuscular lipomas are rare, accounting for less than 1% of lipomas. Usually, though, a lipoma causes no pain or other problems. They do not spread like cancer. https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/neurofibromatosis-type-1-nf1/. A more complex nerve sheath tumor may assume the shape of a dumbbell. 1173185, Mercier.L ,Practical Orthopedics 6th Edition, Elsevier, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey,PubMed ,2013. Lipoma. Lipomas can be unsightly, but they usually do not cause any pain, discomfort or tenderness. This particular lipoma may be pressing on a nerve and that's the cause of pain. Skeletal Radiol. Myofascial pain syndrome is a condition in which those trigger points cause pain to occur: During movement. Symptoms include a soft, easily moveable lump beneath the skin, about two inches across. Tiegs-Heiden CA, Murthy NS, Glazebrook KN, et al. niknak18. If you develop a schwannoma in an arm or leg, you might notice a mass. Your provider may remove a large intramuscular lipoma that pinches nerves, causes nerve pain or muscle cramps or forms an unsightly bump under the skin. What will happen after a lipoma removal: You will be able to go home after your surgery. It is extremely rare for lipomas to impinge on the brachial plexus. 8 posts since. Welcome to Brandon Orthopedics! Often, these lumps are nothing to worry about. An osteophyte was discovered in the left femoral head as a result of left-hip radiography. lipomas and back pain. Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. The general surgeon says their removal is unnecessary and has nothing to do with my pain. A lipoma is painless unless its growth is irritating the nerves around it. Lipomas are usually painless unless they affect joints, organs, nerves, or blood vessels. The most common type of benign peripheral nerve tumor is a schwannoma. An elderly woman with CRPS had a left axillary lipoma and a compression of her left brachial plexus surgically removed. Rosati E, Mariani D. The role of episacroiliac lipomas as a cause of pseudolumbago-sciatica syndromes. Specialists will recommend a specific method depending on the characteristics of the injury and the patient: The first way to remove lipoma on the neck is through liposuction. A benign tumor known as a schwannoma can form on the outside layer of your sciatic nerve. Samer S. Hasan, MD, PhD . This clinical entity is common, and recognition is simple. lipomas can be removed without major surgery in a variety of ways. Hemangioma. It is critical that you seek medical attention if you notice any changes in your nerve function, such as increased pain or weakness. Video chat with a U.S. board-certified doctor 24/7 in less than one minute for common issues such as: colds and coughs, stomach symptoms, bladder infections, rashes, and more. Your peripheral nerves link your brain and spinal cord to other parts of your body. Substitute 1-2 tablespoons of cooled green tea for neem or flaxseed oil to make a paste. Particularly in the cervical area, intramuscular lipomas sometimes invade the surrounding muscles and tissue layers and develop into an irregular mass, despite being benign. Some features of a lipoma include: A dome-shaped or egg-shaped lump about 2-10 cm in diameter (some may grow even larger) It feels soft and smooth and is easily moved under the skin with the fingers. Again - no tests of any kind have been run on me. Your doctor may surgically remove a small part of the lipoma to study whether it is benign or cancerous. Most people with intramuscular lipomas dont need treatment. Giving a local anesthetic, by its nature, will relieve nerve sensations and, therefore, pain. The Treatment of Sciatic Nerve Pain: Complications of Lipoma Don McCann, MA, LMT, LMHC, CSETT. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Symptoms of NF1 include color changes and benign tumors on the skin. Add dried sage to neem oil or flaxseed oil. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. July 13, 2022. Is this true that the lipomas have absolutely nothing to do with my back pain?? Spinal hemangiomas are the most common primary tumor of the spine. Arch Putti Chir Organi Mov. They need to be classified by their location, cervical, thoracic or lumbar, but possibly the most interesting is the lumbosacral lipomas, those that affect the lower region of the spine, the medullary cone. The lipoma had dense, tight borders that took 3-5 times longer to soften than normal connective tissue. I had six lipomas on lower back/buttocks. Sometimes a lipoma under the skin can be unsightly if it grows to be several centimetres across. The lipoma is the most common neoplasm of mesenchymal origin. The signs and symptoms vary greatly from person to person. A peripheral nerve compression of lipomas is occasionally reported. It can change the size up or down without pain. . Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 07/29/2022. A lipoma is a growth of fat cells that feels rubbery and is usually found just below the skin. Metastatic is a general term used to describe the spread of a cancer from some other location in the body. Blend 1 teaspoon of chickweed to 2-3 tablespoons of neem oil or flaxseed oil. This article was created with the Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 open access framework and distributed free of charge. Spinner RJ (expert opinion). Sage is used in traditional Chinese medicine to dissolve fatty tissue. Other symptoms may include weakness, fatigue, and memory disturbances. If you suffer from any of these symptoms, you should seek medical attention. Usually, your dog will not exhibit any signs of pain or immobility unless the tumor is located in a joint. Episacral lipoma occurs as a result of tears in the thoracodorsal fascia and subsequent herniation of a portion of the underlying dorsal fat pad through the tear. It is commonly used in Ayurvedic (ancient Indian) medicine to treat lipomas. Agri. Several theories about its pathophysiology have been proposed, but a thorough understanding of its pathophysiology is lacking. Should I look for signs of complications. If a lipoma, particularly one with a sub muscular type, impinges on a nerve, pain may result. good luck. Symptoms that resemble those of sciatica can be caused by tumors or trauma to the sciatic nerve. These often require excision, whereas other lipomas should be excised only when considered disfiguring. Complications of surgical removal of back mice include: Call your healthcare provider if you experience fever, chills, nausea, increasing pain, bleeding, or discharge. As the tumor grows, it may be more likely to cause symptoms, but even small tumors can sometimes cause symptoms. Although the causes are not always the same, they should not be overlooked in the treatment of sciatica. Vestibular schwannoma: What we know and where we are heading. [16, 17], the prevalence of pain caused by spinal nerve tumors in patients with non-disc-related sciatica was 1.7%. Several different types of tumors may form on the peripheral nerves. The soft endpoint on examination illustrates that a large lipoma of the hip joint can cause clinical symptoms of impingement in the absence of bony abnormality or trauma. 3. A Loss of Feeling in Your Arms and Legs. Fascia is a thin sheet of connective tissue that holds muscles in place. Spinal lipomas are a group of congenital malformations that means they are already present at birth, which is included within the spectrum of hidden spina bifida. Hucherson DC, Gandy JR. Herniation of fascial fat: A cause of low back pain. It was the first day of March. It is very unusual for the tumour to migrate from one part of the cord to another, thus to cause neurological symptoms at the migrated level. Limit eating red meats. This is considered how lipomas of different sizes can be removed and avoid scars; however, it is . By using this Site you agree to the following, By using this Site you agree to the following, The Best IOL for 2022 RXSight Light Adjusted Lens, Will refractive surgery such as LASIK keep me out of glasses all my life, Acute Migraines Relieved By Beta Blocker Eye Drops, Alzheimer's Disease: Current Concepts & Future Directions, Causes of Headaches and Treatment for Headache Pain, New Gene Discoveries Shed Light on Alzheimer's. Nerve fascicles are bundles of nerve fibers. By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies. Can a lipoma swell up and down often without any pain?its on top of the bone at top of spine/base of neck and coz of it position it gets aggravated. Top answers from doctors based on your search: Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone. Healthcare providers sometimes call this type of soft tissue tumor a deep-seated lipoma because it forms under the fascia. Most are benign, meaning that they are not cancerous. This article may contains scientific references. Yaw Boachie-Adjei, MD, is a board-certified, double-fellowship Orthopedic Surgeon. Dermoids and epidermoids are also considered developmental inclusion tumors. Compression of a major nerve can lead to major pain and dysfunction. Lipomas can be confused with malignant (cancerous) tumours, called liposarcomas. Unless pain is unmanageable, a back mouse usually doesn't require treatment. Long-standing pressure on the nerves due to lipoma growing slowly within a confined space may initiate a cascade of events that result in neuropathic pain. It sounds like you have some structure (either a lipoma or a herniated disc . Medical Videos Privacy Policy, Images and Text Policy Editorial Policy, Information Policy Advertising Policy, Financial Disclosure Policy Cookie Policy, About Us Contact Us. These nerves control your muscles so that you can walk, blink, swallow, pick things up and do other activities. That is usually the journal article where the information was first stated. As in metastatic tumors, pain is usually the main symptom initially. Very confused. The ability of nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography to detect L5 radiculopathy was demonstrated. Episacral lipoma is a significant and treatable cause of acute and chronic low back pain. Generally, large lipomas are best removed to resolve or prevent symptoms or to rule out malignancy (unlikely). When refering to evidence in academic writing, you should always try to reference the primary (original) source. The term is used by somechiropractors, in particularto describe several different conditions. Middle-aged men and women tend to get them more, and they run in families. ways to boost your brainpower. Helpful A lipoma is a benign medical condition. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Chicken, tofu, and beans are all healthy alternatives to red meat that are also high in protein. A schwannoma typically comes from a single bundle of nerve fibers, called a fascicle, within the main nerve. After two weeks, the patients symptoms in his left arm had improved but not completely, according to the doctors. They are difficult to differentiate from lipomas by sight unless they contain visible blood. They are benign masses that grow slowly and gradually. Always get a second opinion. I am aware that tumors of this type are rarely malignant. Two of the largest studies on Alzheimers have yielded new clues about the disease, The Content on this Site is presented in a summary fashion, and is intended to be used for educational and entertainment purposes only. Most are small, but they can grow quite large in rare circumstances. This most often affects alcoholic men of Mediterranean ancestry.They usually appear as small, soft lumps. Lipomas are composed of fat cells that have the same morphology as normal fat cells, and there is a connective tissue framework. You may get one or more of these tests: You may also get a needle biopsy to confirm that the tumor isnt a soft tissue cancer like liposarcoma. The size of the lipoma inhibited the patient's ability to look directly up without turning his head sideward. Symptoms Symptoms vary, but back pain and weakness are the most common ones. They are not deep, just under the skin but when you press on the tumor it doesn't hurt but the tissue around it will hurt more intensely (flaring up the pain) for hours. Occasionally some people have several of them in the arms, legs or body. There are various structures within the back region, including the following. 2023 Brandon Orthopedics | All Right Reserved, Can Cervical Degenerative Disc Disease Cause Nyctalopia, A Spinal Stenosis Flare Up: Causes Symptoms And Treatment. This article looks at what back mice are, the conditions linked to them, their symptoms, and how they're diagnosed and treated. Other causes of sciatica include diabetes and anecdotes of anecdotes on the spine. The diagnosis is at last by magnetic resonance imaging, an MRI of the lumbosacral region; it will allow diagnosing and defining the type of lipoma and also treatment options. They can range from a total absence of symptoms, at least in a specific period of life, to the appearance of more or fewer complex symptoms that can occur at any moment of evolution. Lipomas are usually harmless and do not cause any pain. Lipoma: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, Herbal Remedies, Prognosis, Epidemiology, Lipomatosis: Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, Epidural Lipomatosis: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis, Dietary Dos and Donts for Migraine Sufferers, Shirshasana (Headstand) Versus Inversion Therapy Using Inversion Table, Understanding Joint Pain and Tips to Get Relief Using Home Remedies, Erectile Dysfunction: Does Opioid Cause ED, Libido: Opioid Induced Female Sexual Dysfunction. Keep in mind that lipomas rarely burst nor should they leave the removal to the professionals. November 1948. : If you have a non tender (non-painful), mobile (squishy) and small ("grape-sized" or <2 cm?) Before surgery, a patient was diagnosed with an unusual set of symptoms associated with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). And episacral lipoma is the musculoskeletal complaints; it is not the tumor itself. Its a little harder to take out one of these. Lipomas generally develop slowly, forming round, flattened lumps that are soft or spongy in texture and easily moved around under the skin. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352241015000523), Visitation, mask requirements and COVID-19 information. It is a pain with mechanical characteristics and it presents when the patient is sitting or doing any trunk flexion or extension. In the hands of a competent doctor things will go smoothly and your spine is not involved. Policy. One method is to make a small cut in the skin and then squeeze out the lipoma. A lipoma is a benign (noncancerous) tumor made up of fat tissue. lipomas are not a sign of a serious illness; you do not need to be concerned about them. i have one right next to my spine and it's about the size of a golf ball. This is because it does not cause any pain or discomfort if it's not in an area affecting the movement of the body. This is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves. This is the first human clinical presentation of a benign lipoma that causes CRPS symptoms. It is suspected that he had chronic pain syndrome. For instance, an adult or adolescents patients the most common symptom is low back pain. is an expert in LMT, LMHC, and CSETT. This clinical entity is common, and recognition is simple. The main symptom of a lipoma is a lump or mass that you can feel just underneath your dog's skin. Although most of the time, your Sciatica symptoms only affect one side of your body, they can occasionally affect both. It is done through a syringe with a needle to remove the fat lump. Other causes ofCRPS may include sensorimotor neuropathy, erythromelalgia, vascular insufficiency, lymphedema, and deep vein thrombosis. Mole and lipoma on spine, how can i tell? The cause of these tumors is usually unknown. Most frequently, the presentation is of an asymptomatic, pain-free, slowly growing mass involving subcutaneous tissue [ 1 ]. The incidence of spinal lipoma is approximately one fifth that of neural tube defects12 and is present in 1:4000 births. A lipoma is a growth of fat cells in a thin, fibrous capsule usually found just below the skin. lump on your back, it is most likely benign and probably. Benign peripheral nerve tumors. The patient's pain, decreased range of motion, and parasthesias have gradually worsened to the point where his symptoms are aggravated by any movement of his head or neck. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: verify here. Most commonly these rare lesions are located within the thoracic spinal cord. If you experience numbness, tingling, or pain in one or more limbs, consult with your healthcare provider. They are usually asymptomatic, and nerve compression by lipomas is unusual. A typical case of this type of growth is not cancerous, but it can cause significant pain if it affects your nerve. These symptoms should get better in a few days. The study participants were fully aware of the studys implications. Lipomas are common benign masses that are usually located in subcutaneous tissue and do not infiltrate surrounding tissues. Intradural tumors usually develop within the spinal cord, nerves, or their coverings (dura), while extradural tumors usually are metastases from other . First described by Ries in 1937, 1 episacral lipomas are small, tender, "tumor-like" nodules occurring mainly over the sacroiliac region which can cause disabling low back pain. Sacral spinal tumors, which are characterized by back pain and leg weakness, have also been linked to leg pain. Lipoma tumors form just under the skin, usually in the shoulders, neck, trunk, or arms. Dercum's Disease Dercum's disease is a dermatological condition characterized by painful lipomas and subcutaneous plaques. Lipomas are usually not painful. The patient experienced troublesome pain in the neck and occipital area, and surgical treatment was therefore suggested. The left axillary lipoma was removed, as well as the contents of the left axillary sac, during this procedure. The condition of this tumor can cause significant and potentially curable low back pain. In fact, back mice are often found by chiropractors and massage therapists during routine treatments. Her orthopedic surgeon referred her to an urgent care center for treatment of severe sciatic pain. Mayo Clinic. Call us at 1-877-320-8762 (outside the U.S.). But you might have a schwannoma for years before noticing it. These tumors usually grow slowly. Painful, fatty growths that can have several causes. These benign, soft lumps that appear under the skin on the neck, shoulders, back, and arms are caused by fat cells that are slowly growing. These mostly occur in the mid-back and lower-back. HealthTap uses cookies to enhance your site experience and for analytics and advertising purposes. The lipomas associated with Dercum's disease have more connective tissue than non Dercum's disease fat. Fibromyalgia is a painful condition that is caused by fatigue and sleep problems.