Does anyone elses pain get worse at night?

SaraD

Hi all

My pain seems to get worst at night and I was curious if this was the same for anyone else?

The arthritis was in my hand most the day but tonight it has moved into my hips and knee. It's still in my right hand but a lot worse than it has been all day. As I'm off work at the minute I've done nothing all day other than lay on the sofa watching tv. There seems to be no rhym or reason to it!

Sara

Toots

Hi Sara

I certainly feel it's worse at night too, and yes, just when you figure it's all settled in one joint, it starts up in another! I'm new to all this so can't say if it's 'normal' but thought I'd share anyhow! x

SaraD

Hi Toots

Thanks for sharing. . Do you mean new to the forum or new to being diagnosed?

Sara

Starburst

Hi Sara,

I've noticed that I feel less able to cope with the pain at night. So, I'm not sure if the pain is actually worse at night but if feels like it if you see what I mean? Lately, I've been needing stronger pain relief at night and I have no idea if it works but it knocks me out!

SaraD

Hi Starburst

Perhaps that's it. Pain killers don't seem to work for me so not been having much sleep.

Sara

stickywicket

I think starburst makes a good point there. For me, the worst RA pain has always been the early morning one where nothing works. But evenings can be tough too in a different, weary way.

I don't think lying on the sofa all day will help a lot unless you do keep getting up and moving about. Staying in one position isn't good.

Toots

SaraD wrote:

Hi Toots

Thanks for sharing. . Do you mean new to the forum or new to being diagnosed?

Sara

Both I suppose! Been hanging around here for a couple of months but am yet to actually be diagnosed. Patiently (yeah, right) waiting for my rheumy appt which should be around end of this month.

hileena111

Hi
I think pain always seems worse at night....during the day we can distract ourselves with things. TV, Reading, craft stuff etc
At night........there seems to be nothing to stop us thinking about pain so because we concentrate on it more it feels worse.
Have you every tried going on the computer at night or early morning as a distraction.....there are some people about
Love
Hileena

[Deleted User]

Good morning all.
It is mostly worse at nights and the early hours are definitely the very worst. I don't know why that is so, but apparently most patients have the same problem here.
And Stickywicket has a very good point: lying all day will worsen the pain in the long run. Especially in the hips. I even walk around at night every hour or whenever necessary to "losen up" a bit.
As the saying goes: "the hour is darkest before dawn"...- well in my case at least it should say: "the hour is darkest before noon"

dreamdaisy

For me it isn't worse at night, what alters matters is the lack of distraction, especially when one is lying next to a deeply snoozing spouse. :roll: Another personal factor is that I don't move naturally in my sleep so in order to turn over or move I have to wake up, hence a disturbed night of waking, silently 'ow!-ing' then trying to go back to sleep. Ain't life grand? DD

dibdab

I identify with "it hurts more at night"- we seem to stiffen up then wake up, as DD said, to roll over, I'm impressed she groans silently- I normally groan aloud and prod my snoring spouse just because I'm grumpy!!!! Happily he seldom wakes up or notices the grumpy wife. Worst thing at night for me is not being able to get comfortable to get to sleep, and then I stress about not getting enough sleep, and so it goes round and round- often end up getting up, making a drink, reading a book and then having another shot at settling off-strangely that often works.

Deb x

dreamdaisy

I don't make a noise because my problems aren't his and he can't help being healthy, ergo he lacks the appreciation of having the ability to do what he wants and when he wants. When he is restless, however, a different set of rules are brought into play. :roll: DD

As5567

My pain is often worse at night, and I put that down to lack of movement. I think it depends on the type of arthritis the person also has, I have AS which mainly effects my spine, neck, hips and knees which if you think about is are joints that are used for more or less any movement at one given time. I'd say the "relaxing" part of sleep has something to do with it too, perhaps the joints aren't supported by our muscles etc that surrounds them as well as when we're awake and alert?

dibdab wrote:

I identify with "it hurts more at night"- we seem to stiffen up then wake up, as DD said, to roll over, I'm impressed she groans silently- I normally groan aloud and prod my snoring spouse just because I'm grumpy!!!! Happily he seldom wakes up or notices the grumpy wife. Worst thing at night for me is not being able to get comfortable to get to sleep, and then I stress about not getting enough sleep, and so it goes round and round- often end up getting up, making a drink, reading a book and then having another shot at settling off-strangely that often works.

Deb x

I can totally relate to that, when I'm having a bad time (which is about 50% of the time) I will get into bed around 10pm, take my pain killers and other nasty pills, watch some tv and eventually drift off to sleep. I will typically wake up every hour or so and change position, eventually the pain gets too much and I have to get up and sit in a chair, after about an hour or so I will return to bed and resume sleeping as best as I can.

The only time that I ever sleep solid without disruption is either after my infusion or if I'm having an extremely bad day and I dig out the zombie pain killers.

maria09

Hi
I can relate to all of you
Sounds like a typical night for me
But at mine my Metoject has kicked in and the first time in 10 years its a little easier I still have the pain but not as intense as before I just keep expecting it to get bad again
Hope it improves for all of you in the near future
Maria

barbara12

Hi Sara
Must say mine is a lot worse at night..like the others say there is no distraction...the only time Im not in pain is when I sleep..did I say sleep..I am forgetting what that feels like... :roll: hope you get some relief very soon x

justinbarrow

I am also worse during the night and cant get a good nights sleep and its been like this for years but only recently its got worse cant lay on my back for long and then cant lay on my side for long before having to sit up to sleep.

I feel most people will be the same during the night as Arthur seems to like the night and this is when he becomes even more active...I just wish he would sleep at night

Hope things get better for everyone soon - The colder either on the way wont help either :roll: