Why Does Rheumatoid Arthritis Hurt More at Night?

… Continued …

However, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pain and other symptoms that hurt more or get worse at night may be not fully understood yet.

Again, each case can be different. Sufferers can find that their symptoms worsen in the morning or/and late in the evening, Even some may have the flares-up all day long.

If you have RA, you are relatively easier to have fatigue, especially during flare-up. On the other hand, you need extra energy for each task you need to do!

Other symptoms such as joint pain, swelling, and stiffness can cause a significant impact in daily routines, too. However, there are some strategies that can help cope with your RA symptoms throughout the day.

Make a bedtime routine!

As mentioned before, RA can affect the quality of your sleep. And sleep deprivation can make your RA get worse, creating vicious circle. But in fact, getting adequate rest and sleep are very essential for anyone.

Try to create a bedtime routine! This can help maintain the natural rhythm of your sleep cycle. Even though in the weekend, go to sleep on time!

Skip any bad thing that can disturb your sleep!

Your body not only needs adequate sleep in quantity, but also in quality. Make sure to ban TV, computers, or even your smartphone from your lovely bedroom!

Are there any special things you need to do before going bed?

If necessary, you can ask your doctor whether you need to take additional medicine (such as painkiller or anti-inflammatory tablets that can work 12 hours to help control your RA symptoms overnight). To keep safe, don’t take the medication without prescription!

Taking a warm bath may help, too. You can take it before retiring to sooth the joints and relax the muscles.

What else?

The affected joints by RA can be especially achy and stiff when you rise or after a long period of inactivity. So, it’s important to have a regular exercise!

Avoid bad things that can worsen the disease overnight such as not drinking caffeine about 2 hours before going to bed. Smoking is also bad for the disease!

If necessary, take a warm shower to help start your day off smoothly! Then you can do a bit of light stretching to loosen your muscles, joints, and to help reduce stiffness in the morning.