do folks on an abnormal sleep schedule have their cytokine release at 4 AM or some other time?

[benhemp]

I've learned from this forum that there is a release of cytokines around 4 AM, and these are the cause of the pain/stiffness we experience early in the day. My question is: Does that cytokine release occur at the same time for folks on abnormal sleep schedules (e.g., third shift workers)?

I ask because my normal sleep schedule is to go to bed around 3 AM and rise 8-9 hours later. I do experience my greatest pain/stiffness of the day for the 1.5 to hours after I rise; sometimes I rise because I am forced to by my pain.

I'd like to change my sleep timing back to something like 10 or 11 PM, but years of habit are not easily changed. (Tips for doing so are welcome.)

I'd like to know whether my abnormal sleep timing is a cause of greater PMR problems, and, if so, what sleep timing is ideal.

Thanks in advance for all comments!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I suspect not - circadian rhythms are really messed up for shift workers

sleepeducation.org/essentia....

The abstract here

tandfonline.com/doi/full/10...

seems to confirm the idea that cytokine release is also affected and this

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

mentions the effect on several cytokines.

Ideal would be "normal" sleeping patterns - adjusting it would seem to rely on a determined change of bedtime and sticking it out! Presumably changing it half an hour at a time might work - or putting the entire agony in a shorter period by changing to midnight in one fell swoop? Or asking for referral to the sleep study people - they must have ideas.

OTOH, if you are happy otherwise with your current sleeping pattern, why not take the pred at 3am as you go to bed? That should prevent the pain starting and waking you earlier than you want.

[benhemp in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for the links and for the suggestions! They are very helpful.