Painful/ Aching Arms/ Elbows when Sleeping

[Rascotland]

I am sure I have seen this elsewhere.

I am only 4 weeks into treatment, I know this is very early, but there are some positive signs.

One odd thing is the arms at night, seem mainly ok in day, maybe a bit achy sometimes. But at night they both seem to become painful and feel weak around elbows, to point that it is difficult/ painfull to lift duvet cover?

Thanks all.

[sylvi]

I don't get that darling, i get painful hands and fingers. xxx

[wishbone]

I have pain in my arms, elbows, plus my shoulders. ...no fun at all!! You should find it eases off once your meds start to work properly.

[Gottarelax]

I get that, shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees. Turning over is takes a lot of effort and yes, just moving the duvet is a struggle at times. Sorry I don't have advice but like you hoping the drugs do the trick eventually.

[CagneysMum]

I remember this stage well and had to buy the lightest weight duvet I could find. It’s not much help to you at the moment but it will get better …. though unfortunately there is no quick fix.

Like I was … I imagine you find that your joints are better when you are moving during the day and start to stiffen up when you lay in bed at night, which makes them feel more painful when you try to move. I bought a small pillow that I hugged when sleeping on my side which really helped ease my shoulders. I would also sometimes pop it under my knees when sleeping on my back. Good luck with your journey 🥰

[Mrspainting48]

My elbows are very sore and are fusing.My forearms and shoulders ache as do my wrists both fused.

I am drug intollerant so no relief.

Lots of arnica rubs....

[Hippo1234567]

mine were like that. Even adjusting my duvet caused bad pain. But now I’m pain free thanks to my meds. It took a little while once I was on the right medication.

[OldTed60]

hi there. I have this exact symptom too. It started when I was diagnosed with RA in 2011 but no longer have RA on my diagnoses list now and nothing showed on hands ultrasound on Monday - suspect X-rays will just show some OA and maybe some calcinosis. I have a rare autoimmune connective tissue disease called Systemic Sclerosis and Sjögren’s with Raynaulds. I’m also hypothyroid and have severe disc disease.

I am not much the wiser about what causes this strange slightly electrical weakness in both arms when resting - which is debilitating during the night and ends with burning red painful palms. I think I’ve decided that it’s fluid retention due to my Raynaud’s and also a condition called Erythromelalgia - which I am diagnosed with too as part of my mix. When I wake after a night of arm weakness from elbows and hands locking, I notice my hands look red like this.

Erythromelalgia is rare anc can be associated with any autoimmune disease but I think it’s most commonly found in RA and Sjögren’s. Mine seems to relate to my body temperature at night and how deeply I’ve been sleeping.

Colour photo of Erythromelalgia in my hands this morning

[oldtimer]

I think bright red palms are common in autoimmune conditions. I've got them so I notice them in others. It does keep them warm. When it's bad though it contributes to the pain and swelling.

[Hidden]

Elbows I was told was my Fibromyalgia… used to be ludicrously painful. I take Amitriptyline 20mg at 7pm which has worked wonders for me..

[cuppa69]

I do feel for you. I was only diagnosed last September and suffered greatly with this.

I was initially given a steroid injection by the Rheumatologist, but that was only effective for around three days.

I was then put on a course of anti-inflammatory steroid tablets called Prednisolone for eight weeks, which really helped and gave me some quality of life back.

I hope this helps, good luck.