How long does your stiffness lasts?

[pineapple_head]

Hiya! I have RA mostly in my knees and my knees at the moment are very stiff and the stiffness lasts the whole day. I'm just curious to find out how long/how many hours does your stiffness lasts?

[nomoreheels]

Hiya pineapple_head. I have RD & OA but can tell the difference between the two where my joint stiffness is concerned. With my RD I have acceptable "movement" for my "low disease activity"

DAS28 score, about 3/4 hour to an hour after rolling out of bed, though a longish warm shower (if I'm awarded one!) often helps ease the stiffness. My OA is a different matter, my knees, back & neck specifically, they're stiff whenever I've been sitting or lying down for any length of time & stairs are a nightmare, especially first thing (we live in an upside down house).

Hope this helps.

[pineapple_head in reply to nomoreheels]

That's interesting! I don't have OA in my knees and the stiffness had completely resolved with leflunomide but I think now, it has run its course.

But generally, I'm just curious about how long stiffness lasts with people who have RA!

[nomoreheels in reply to pineapple_head]

I'm sorry to hear that. No, I wasn't suggesting you had, just comparing my differing daily stiffness .... because I can lol! Has your Rheumy discussed the next option with you or is it recent?

[pineapple_head in reply to nomoreheels]

Yes, cull ;-). Seriously, I'm seeing him tomorrow. But I agree with you that most people can make the difference between RA and OA stiffness. I think the other clue is the need to have a hot bath or got shower!!

[nomoreheels in reply to pineapple_head]

Good luck for tomorrow. I hope the next one works if that's what's needed. For me warmth certainly makes a difference, but don't get when we have a snuggly warm feather quilt why I'm still stiff first thing of a morning!

[pineapple_head in reply to nomoreheels]

Hope things improve for you too. Thank you for your reply!

[Hidden]

When I was first ill my stiffness was 24/7. Partly that was because I couldn't move very much, so that set up a vicious circle I think. These days I don't really have any. Knees are a complete $%^& in my opinion! When they're stiff and painful there's a knock on effect on the whole body.

[pineapple_head in reply to Hidden]

I bought a walking stick yesterday because I keep losing balance and also because I look walk weirdly. I'm sorry to hear that you had that horrible all day long stiffness with your knees but, for me, at least someone else has experienced this. Thank you for your reply.

[pineapple_head in reply to Hidden]

I agree. Knees are limiting and make you walk weird. It's so embarrassing but I suspect that hands are pretty bad too.

[Hidden]

Hi, my stiffness varies depending on how well managed my condition is. When on methotrexate I had no stiffness most of the time. Now I'm on hydroxychloroquine I have some stiffness most of the time. Id say the stiffness is worst from when I get up at 6am until about 10am although it's still pretty bad all day.

I considered a walking stick too but find it aggravates my shoulder and hand. Are your hands affected by using it? x

[pineapple_head in reply to Hidden]

Yes the stick is hurting my hands, shoulders and neck. Fortunately, I had a kenalog today, yeah!!!

[pineapple_head in reply to Hidden]

The stick did aggravate my hands fortunately, I had a kenalog injection today. What a relief and I'm already starting to walk more normally.

[Hidden]

Hi there

My rheumy department use length of morning stiffness as a guide as how well controlled I am. It was 2 hours which is a lot so I had a depo and now it's a few mins ( until I'm out of bed really). Hopefully your rheumy has something good up his or her sleeve for you!

[beeckey]

hi i have had ra for along time and i am stiff right through the day just some days worse than others i have been in and out of hospital to try and get it under control also had joints replaced but still painful.So just to say how different we all are so not sure if i have oa too as knees are very bad at the moment see rhmy start of december so see what happens like everyone else worried about pip when a letter drops on the mat i think this is it so that does not help hope you get it sorted and get the right meds

[pineapple_head in reply to beeckey]

Good luck with PIP! My rheumy sent me for x-ray this morning and also got a kenalog injection. So I will get a few weeks respite, yeah!!!!!

[Karen77]

In the beginning I was stiff all day long. I went to a group session on inflammatory arthritis and they were completely incredulous that I had no relief from my pain. But now I understand. I'm drugged up enough now that I rarely feel any stiffness (one finger that lasts all day, but that's it). Last week my feet felt stiff just the distance from my bed to the toilet, but that's sporadic, and certainly less than 15 minutes.

[pineapple_head in reply to Karen77]

Sorry, me being curious. Which finger?

[Karen77 in reply to pineapple_head]

My left middle finger. I'm also lefthanded. I've been told there's no correlation, but have noticed the arthritis affects my left hand worse than my right.