How do you cope with the morning pain. I awake in the middle of the night and the pain is there and then later when it's time to get up and out of bed it's there. Then when I go to put foot to floor boy is it there and I know there is the agonizing walk to the kitchen. It feels as though it's getting worse day by day and so I thought I know what I will do, get in touch with my NRAS chums and see what help and advise they can offer.
So, please let me know what you do to overcome this painful morning ritual.
Thanks to all.
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DandyLad
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15 Replies
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Remind us all what drugs you take for your RA again and how long you've had it for? I think for many people on here RA meds are the only way to try to avoid the morning problems you describe. I did have them but don't anymore - well only in my hands and wrists sometimes and what I do most mornings is stay in bed and try to unstiffen them with gentle exercises and then go to the bathroom and fill the basin with hot water and dunk them in and wriggle them. So a hot shower might help you most? Hope things improve for you soon. Tildax
I take amitripyline at night helps with pain. if I still wake with pain more painkillers thouh dont take too many!! cup of tea and snack then bed again cxx
I take MST, time release Morphine and Oromorph, liquid morphine for top up pain and then there is a whole list of others aswell. Sadly and although tempting going back to bed is not an option, I don't think I could stay in bed unless totally bed ridden. That said and although hard to believe I do stay within the boundaries of my pain relief. I think I might try and exercise a little in bed, possibly have some pain relief and set my alarm clock earlier so I can still be up when my partner gets up and the crazy twosome come bounding in, they are my 2 boys. Mad as hatter cats! Thanks for your help Summer.
I always hobble to the bathroom and take a hot shower every morning before getting ready for work. This is the only way I can function for a hour or so before the joint pain returns. I started to do this before I knew I had ra and when I mentioned it to the consultant he said that it works well for most people. Worth a try,
I used to get morning pain and stiffness really bad and what I did was take a paracetamol when I got up, then hobble about as best as I could then take another one 30mins before I had to head out. That was before I responded to treatment so I guess it depends which meds you're on and for how long you've been taking them!
Hope you'll get something sorted soon. Whenever I really couldn't take it anymore or if it got so bad I couldn't function anymore (unable to bend knees, agonising pain when accidentally touching something with my feet etc) I'd beg for a steroid injection and I'd have some bliss for a few weeks lol
I am not allowed to take paracetamol, only aspirin and I am only allowed to take one of those a day. I am on morphine, liquid morphine, sevredol and a few others which cover some other illnesses I have. I think from what I have read here this morning, is to do some exercises in bed, get out of bed and stretch the legs and head into the kitchen where my lovely first cup of tea is...... Once I have medicated I do feel better and then I hope to enjoy my day. I could not consider going back to bed as I have 2 small boys and they take up a lot of my time... my 2 ginger cats that is!
I guess paracetamol wouldn't do much for you if you're already taking morphine! I've felt that streching and moving about does most of the time help getting rid of that horrible morning pain but it does take some persuasion to deliberately feel worse before you feel better!!
Yes the dreaded I really don't want to move or put my feet on the floor moment! As everyone has said it will get better when your RA drugs kick in or are more effective. However I leave a drink and my painkillers beside the bed and have them, I'df I am lucky one of the family bring me tea! I then gently move my joints in bed , ask the physio but mainly just gentle stretching exercises. Then I put my feet on the ground and just ease them into and out of the carpet until I can bear the thought of standing. Then I lean against the wall and putting one leg behind stretch out my feet and knees. I find although this takes time it helps me.
Then I get back into bed, ...only joking !!!!! No I think this is one of the worst symptoms and everyone know to leave me alone in the morning or wake me early if we have to go somewhere!! During the night isthe worst to try to getnto the loo, i have crutches and take painkillers as well.Hope you feel better soon, these are just what I do and the physio showed me them , sending hugs Axx
Hi i tend to do stretch and very soft slippers as above tend to wear spongey shoes normally clarks. not stylish but comfy hope this helps and good luck with your meds x
Are you actually taking any drugs specifically for treating your RA, and not just for pain? If you aren't, then you probably need to have a strong conversation with your rheumatologist to see what you can take. You need to try and deal with the cause of the pain as much as you can first - no amount of pain killers on their own is ever going to stop the inflammatory process.
in answer to your question though, I don't know how to deal with the morning pain other than just gritting my teeth and starting to move. I know that it does relieve a lot once I get going, so that is what keeps me doing it. I also know that staying in bed just makes it all worse, so thats also a big incentive to keep moving.
When I was first diagnosed I had the same horrific pain that woke me in the night etc. The ra meds (methetrexate) have made the most significance. However I have a couple of pointers that a few have hinted at
Firstly, heat helps. If I am woken by the pain in the night I put my heated blanket on. The heat helps me to move my joints).
Secondly. I save some of my pain killers from middle of the day to night time as I find it easier to cope when busy at work etc. I thus take pain relief at the times needed without overdoing them.
Lastly, when I saw my podiatrist and my physio backed this up - dont ever walk around barefoot. They gave me shoe insoles and said always have a bit of a heel (even half inch is better than totally flat) and yes spongy for support.
By using the above combination along with mtx I am better able to cope with mornings (amitriityline for neural pain relief also helped but I dont like taking them if I have work the next day).
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Stiff hands in the morning?
RA on this morning!!!!
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