Pain in Legs

mmarshall

Hi Everyone

I have posted a few times and was gratefull for the help in your replies so here I am again.
I have RA and I am on MTX, Sulpha and recently started Hydroxy, I also take lodine daily along with 20mg of Amytrip.
After having so much pain with my shoulder and having Plantar Facisitis I have been feeling really good and hardly any pain at all except for at night so I thought I would ask if anyone on here gets this.
When I go to bed at night I am fine but I am waking up a few times during the night with pains in my legs, I cannot say that is it is any certain part of my legs more a all over ache.
I know I sleep sometimes with both legs bent or just one leg but when I wake up I straighten them and then I feel the ache in both legs. I don't know what is causing this, is it the RA?
The only other thing I have noticed is that when a climb stairs my legs do feel very heavy and ache but once I am at the top my legs are fine again.
Any how I thought I would ask if anyone else gets this as I am finding it strange because once I am up and ready there is no pain at all.
Thanks
Mary
Mary

sharmaine

Hi Mary

I have OA in both knees. My first TKR is on 15 February. I invested in a memory foam mattress topper and pillow which really helps to cushion my limbs. I used to be in constant pain before. If my legs are really bad (flare up) I find that I have to sleep on my back with my legs elevated. I generally use a couple of pillows or just one memory foam pillow for this. I think periods of inactivity does result in joints becoming stiff and swollen. I used to sleep on my right side but have had to stop this because my right shoulder is now affected by OA.

I take 3 amytriptilines at night which help to relax my muscles and they have helped me to sleep better.

See you GP - maybe they can suggest something else.

Regards
Sharmaine

mmarshall wrote:

Hi Everyone

I have posted a few times and was gratefull for the help in your replies so here I am again.
I have RA and I am on MTX, Sulpha and recently started Hydroxy, I also take lodine daily along with 20mg of Amytrip.
After having so much pain with my shoulder and having Plantar Facisitis I have been feeling really good and hardly any pain at all except for at night so I thought I would ask if anyone on here gets this.
When I go to bed at night I am fine but I am waking up a few times during the night with pains in my legs, I cannot say that is it is any certain part of my legs more a all over ache.
I know I sleep sometimes with both legs bent or just one leg but when I wake up I straighten them and then I feel the ache in both legs. I don't know what is causing this, is it the RA?
The only other thing I have noticed is that when a climb stairs my legs do feel very heavy and ache but once I am at the top my legs are fine again.
Any how I thought I would ask if anyone else gets this as I am finding it strange because once I am up and ready there is no pain at all.
Thanks
Mary
Mary

lizzie7ne

Hi Mary, I know exactly what you mean, unfortunately I cant offer any real answers as I am still searching for them, but maybe someone on the forum can. I have RA, and when I stretch out my legs in bed, in fact as soon as I lie down the ache starts, its an all over the ache, from the knee down the back of my calf and the sides too especially the outer sides,its quite bad, its as soon as the skin touches the mattress and even the skin becomes sore to touch, it seems more muscular rather than joint to me.

I tend to sleep with my knees bent or one knee bent that offers some relief. Also elevating my legs slightly using one pillow seems to help for a while.

I invested in a memory foam mattress and I also bought a cool topper which keeps the surface at body tempurature as memory foam works on body heat and as you know flaring joints produce heat. This way I get the benefit of the memory foam without increased heat, however although its really comfortable and I guess has helped the problem a little I still have these awful problems with my calfs.

I too have wondered if it is RA as the problem is not just the joints, in fact my joints can be ok but I still get these problems with my legs.

Also the walking upstairs and the heavy leg feeling i get that too.

Hopefully someone here maybe able to give us some advice.

lizzie

scattered

I find I get really bad aching legs at night, a little like restless leg syndrome only I don't have to move them contantly, they just ache and wind me up. I've found that taking some co-codemol usually helps a bit.

I have a new foam mattress which has also helped to ease the problem a little.

Sorry I can't really help, just sympathise!

bailey27

Hi
I used to have this problem and my doctor told me it was restless legs syndrome. it was frustrating ebcause he prescribed some tabs for it but they didnt really help. It was also suggested i drink tonic water, which i am not sure if it helped becasue soon after i was given steroids.
i found that my legs were painfully achey. nothing would get rid of it, even if the pain subsided there would still be an uncomfortable achey feeling left.
I explained his to my rheumy who told me that when you have inflammation in your back you can get all sorts of unusual pains and feelings and this is from the inflammation pressing on the nerves sending unuaual signals thorugh your legs. when i get a flare up now i get horrible pains in the back of my foot but there is no swelling or bruising, my gp agreed with my rheumy.

mmarshall

Thanks for all your replies.

I see that I am not alone in getting the pains in my legs.
I really don't want to take any more drugs as I am taking so many already. As I said once I am up and dressed the pain goes away but sometimes my legs do feel heavy.
I am still attending Physio for my shoulder so I may mention it then.
This is the best I have felt since last summer and fingers crossed that it continues.

Thanks

Mary

sharmaine

Hi

I also get that heavy legged feeling going up and down the stairs.
See your OT and have a handrail fitted. I find having 2 rails to hold onto helps. Coming down the stairs is harder for me.

Sharmaine

lizzie7ne wrote:

Hi Mary, I know exactly what you mean, unfortunately I cant offer any real answers as I am still searching for them, but maybe someone on the forum can. I have RA, and when I stretch out my legs in bed, in fact as soon as I lie down the ache starts, its an all over the ache, from the knee down the back of my calf and the sides too especially the outer sides,its quite bad, its as soon as the skin touches the mattress and even the skin becomes sore to touch, it seems more muscular rather than joint to me.

I tend to sleep with my knees bent or one knee bent that offers some relief. Also elevating my legs slightly using one pillow seems to help for a while.

I invested in a memory foam mattress and I also bought a cool topper which keeps the surface at body tempurature as memory foam works on body heat and as you know flaring joints produce heat. This way I get the benefit of the memory foam without increased heat, however although its really comfortable and I guess has helped the problem a little I still have these awful problems with my calfs.

I too have wondered if it is RA as the problem is not just the joints, in fact my joints can be ok but I still get these problems with my legs.

Also the walking upstairs and the heavy leg feeling i get that too.

Hopefully someone here maybe able to give us some advice.

lizzie