Can't get no sleep

porrig

Hi all,

This past week or so my left wrist has been really sore. The physio told me to keep doing my exercises, under water when possible, and I have been, but its really starting to affect my sleep, and I wake up repeatedly in the night because my wrist is so painful (I sometimes sleep on my lower arm/hand by accident too, which means I wake up with a dead arm - I'm not sure if this does any damage, but I've done it since I was a child).

Does anyone have any tips for the most comfortable way to sleep, or for whether i should wear a support at night?

I've tried swapping sides of the bed with my wife, and I recently changed my pillow on recommendation of therapist.

Thanks, Mike.

valval

hi mike feel for you was like this last week have you any pain meds you can take to help you get some sleep . some one else will have ideas that will help

elnafinn

Hi Mike

Can you not get wrist braces or supports that can be worn at night? I would suggest asking your OT if you have not done so already. I am sorry to hear you are not able to sleep. Sleep deprivation is not good at all for the body and soul especially if it is for a long length of time.

I am sleeping rather fitfully after my TKR op but at least I have nothing too pressing to do in the day.

I hope peeps reply with some helpful tips.

Luv
Elna x

sharmaine

Hi Mike
It's a nightmare when you can't get comfy and miss out on valuable sleep. Have you tried sleeping on your back with a pillow under your wrist to keep it raised? My husband sleeps in the spare room at the moment because I'm a nightmare at night! He needs his sleep. I find it helps my shoulder (also have OA in hands).

Have you seen your GP about this? You may need some support on the wrist itself.

Regards
Sharmaine

porrig wrote:

Hi all,

This past week or so my left wrist has been really sore. The physio told me to keep doing my exercises, under water when possible, and I have been, but its really starting to affect my sleep, and I wake up repeatedly in the night because my wrist is so painful (I sometimes sleep on my lower arm/hand by accident too, which means I wake up with a dead arm - I'm not sure if this does any damage, but I've done it since I was a child).

Does anyone have any tips for the most comfortable way to sleep, or for whether i should wear a support at night?

I've tried swapping sides of the bed with my wife, and I recently changed my pillow on recommendation of therapist.

Thanks, Mike.

kathbee

HI Mike

Sorry to hear about the sleep and wrist problems.

I too have painful wrists and am often woken up
thru the night with pain and the inability to move my
hand (s).

Years ago Occy Therapist made me a resting splint, made to
be worn at night, its made from what resembles
a plaster cast and it does help. Its not the same
as the fabric splints that are meant to be worn thru
the day.
You just have to take
care that you dont clout your partner in the night, if thats
applicable.

Kath

porrig

Thanks all for your responses.

My next hospital appointment isn't until May (I have RA btw - forgot to mention that) but if it keeps up I'll call the helpline and see if I can move the appointment forward.

Thanks sharmaine, I'll try using a pillow under my wrist tonight and see if that helps.

On slightly different note, has anyone else found that steroid injections don't seem to do anything? The last one I had was directly into my wrist joint but I didn't notice any difference.

skezier

Hi Mike,

Sleep is a problem eh? I use doubled over tubi-grip and will sometimes bandaged my wrists if they are really unhappy but they might do something with mine next appointment, oddly also May.

The steroid jabs was it cortisone? They sometimes work well and the next time not so good but usually worth a go cus they can work very well. I have medrone injected into the bones of my neck and they really have helped, though the last time it was very inflamed and they weren't so good but I will have them again no problem.

If you do need to bring your appointment forward here you can ring the Rumo's secretary and ask if she can get you seen earlier. I hope you find some help soon, take care Cris

dolittle

Hi Mike,
I have a very painful ankle, needs to be fused but I can't take it onboard at the moment. It's been keeping me awake for months.

A friend of mine is a carer, who knows a very elderly carer with years of experience. She brought me a zip-up, quilted pillow case and proceeded to pour in tiny polystyrene 'beeds' (which you can buy). Not too many, but just enough to allow an imprint of my leg and foot, while supporting it as well (like a tempur pillow). She said the old lady carer and her collegues had found, over the years, that this is the best 'support and anti-presssure sore pillow'.

I put my foot and leg on it of a night and I have had a decent night's sleep since. It works for me - thought it was worth mentioning.
Regards
Dolittle

wibberley

Hi Porrig,

Can't help with the sleeping I'm afraid, in fact, I have the same problem - it would be better for me not to sleep with my hands bent but easier said than done so will probably need a splint pretty soon too!

My Rheumy has told me that with cortisone jabs, the larger joints show more success with these than smaller ones, apparently. Knees have the best success rate of all but smaller joints like in the hands etc are more difficult to treat because of all the small bones attached making it more difficult for the cortisone to travel within.

Lois x

wibberley

Thanks delboy, I'll look into that.

Lois x

suzster

i to have very sore wrists, especially at night i found sleeping with my arms hanging over the edge of the bed can help, seems to relieve the pain, not sure why though!
sue