Can you help me stay asleep😴

Elgin

Hello everyone, just joined the group last week after being diagnosed with arthritis in both knees and hips. Every night I manage to go to sleep without too much bother. I put a hot water bottle in the bed and also pop a small day pillow between my knees. The problem is I waken every morning at 3 am -3.30 am with the pain in my right knee. I have to get out of bed and head for the Bio Freeze in the bathroom. Before I move off the bed I swing my leg up and down about six times - if I don’t do this, as I across the room my knee gives way and a very sharp pain shoots through it. Just wondering if anyone has a routine that enables them to sleep all night. Really glad I joined, know nothing about arthritis but knowledge is power so ready to learn. Thanks Rita

PeterJ

Hello @Elgin and welcome to the community. We are a friendly and supportive group and I hope that you will find that as well.

I understand that you have arthritis in your knees and hips and looking for hints and tips about sleep. Our website has a lot of useful information and I would recommend having a look around it. To help I've put a couple of links in below which may be of help.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/your-experiences/hints-and-tips/getting-a-good-nights-sleep-hints-and-tips/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/knee-pain/

Please do keep posting and I am sure that others will connect with you to share their support and experiences as well.

With very best wishes

Peter

jamieA

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/57202/can-you-help-me-stay-asleep

Hi @Elgin

I'm afraid I can't help you stay asleep as I've got the same problem. Since I got struck down with psoriatic arthritis in late 2020 almost every day I wake between 03:30 and 04:30. I happened to say to a different rheumatologist one time when I was admitted to hospital and he said the body naturally produces it's own steroids but it's been found that between 04:00 and 07:00 the body doesn't produce it's own steroids.

frogmorton

Have you talked to your Dr about this at all @Elgin ? Some of us are prescribed meds essentially for our Arthritis which have the knock on effect of helping us sleep.

I was prescribed amitriptyline many years ago, but I know there are other medications which do similar.

This is the information form VA about amitrip:

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/amitriptyline/

@jamieA I was so interested to read this I am a 3.30-4am waker too!

jamieA

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/comment/693356#Comment_693356

Hi @frogmorton and @Elgin

Just a cautionary note on Amitriptyline. I was prescribed Amitriptyline around the same time as my Methotrexate was increased to 20mgs in March 2021 . The Amitriptyline was increased by 50% on 18th May 2021by my rheumatology nurse as I wasn't sleeping well. On 29th May I was admitted to hospital with Atrial Fibrillation - I'd no previous history of heart issues. The cardiac consultant immediately stopped Amitriptyline. I've since discovered from a number of online medical sites that both Amitriptyline and Methotrexate can cause Atrial Fibrillation.

frogmorton

Gosh @jamieA that sounds really scary I am very pleased you are ok now at least. The VA site has that down as a rare risk/side effect luckily, but a good idea to let us know to thank you. I am glad to say I have had no problems so far.

Toni x

Elgin

Thank you all so much (belatedly) for your advice and encouragement. Elgin

DebbieL

Hi Rita,

I think all of my posts are late at night. I have Osteoarthritis of my lower spine and am 55 years.

I take 20mg of nortriptyline and 2 X 30/500 cocodamol to reduce my pain so that I can sleep.

I read or spend time on this site until I’m really tired. Sometimes I don’t go to sleep until 1am. I work 3 days a week but know I can have an afternoon nap another day if I need to. I find that if I have done a lot of walking or exercise during the day I usually sleep better.

I often wake up around 3am-4am and if my pain is bad I get some hot milk, take 2x 30/500 cocodamol and read until I’m in less pain and tired again. I try really hard not to take painkillers in the day as I prefer to use them at night to be able to sleep.

I also use heat pads- direct to skin. If I am still in too much pain to sleep I get a sandwich and then take naproxen- this is my last resort- needing this is rare.

I also have a 4 inch memory foam topper on my mattress which has made a real difference. I can sleep on my stomach now which I couldn’t do with a normal mattress and this takes weight off my hips when they are aching. I usually sleep on my side.

I try not to stress if I can’t sleep at night. I just try and catch up another time.

I think it is all trial and error to find painkillers that work for you. I do think some form of exercise is good to aid sleep but you need to find something that you enjoy and doesn’t make your pain worse. I have been doing some physio exercises and they tire me out and I have slept better.

I hope some of the things that work for me will work for you.

Take care

Debbie

CliveClive

Hi folks, I also can't sleep for long periods at night. I'm post op hip operation of 6 weeks. Fall asleep for an hour and then wake with dull discomfort in hip. Getting up reduced pain, so I watch t.v. and try bed an hour later. Only living on maybe 4 hour sleep a night. Try only to take pain killers before bed. Does this sound normal? I'm fed up.

noddingtonpete

Hello @CliveClive have a look through the following

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/your-experiences/hints-and-tips/getting-a-good-nights-sleep-hints-and-tips/