Many people blame their restless nights on arthritis pain. But research finds that the relationship actually works both ways — poor sleep can make your joint pain worse, and even increase the likelihood that you may become disabled or depressed.
Fatigue and sleep problems go hand-in-hand for many people with arthritis. The main culprits are the inflammatory disease process and the accompanying chronic pain. Inflammation. If you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks your body and inflammation is the result.
Getting enough good quality sleep can play a big role in helping you manage a long-term health condition like arthritis.
Many people with arthritis say fatigue is one of their biggest challenges. Fatigue can be linked to many types of arthritis and related conditions. It's commonly a symptom of autoimmune conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, reactive arthritis and lupus.
Napping can be a mixed bag for people with inflammatory diseases, particularly arthritis, Dr. Rubenstein says. For many patients, even short naps can cause their joints to stiffen up, which causes pain, she says.
Physical activity is the best available treatment for OA. It's also one of the best ways to keep joints healthy in the first place. As little as 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise five times a week helps joints stay limber and strengthens the muscles that support and stabilize your hips and knees.
Give it a rest.
However, when you are experiencing a flare, sometimes the best thing you can do for your arthritis is rest and allow your body to recharge. Finding balance between activity and rest is especially important during a flare.
Trouble sleeping is both a symptom and a cause of fatigue — and it can also make your fatigue worse. Despite the fact that inflammatory arthritis fatigue can make you feel extremely sleepy, you may have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, and/or feeling refreshed after sleep.
Stage IV: Bony Ankylosis
As the name suggests, stage IV is when the bones fuse together with actual bone tissue instead of just a connective fibrous tissue. At this stage, pain actually goes away, but so does the ability to move. The joint is essentially gone, so you can't bend or flex the area.
Sometimes rest is appropriate
If you are experiencing an arthritis flare-up, it can be helpful to take a break for a day or two while you focus on reducing pain and inflammation. In the meantime, focus on rest, ice or heat therapy, and anti-inflammatory pain medications.
Walking is recommended for people with arthritis as it's low impact, helps to keep the joints flexible, helps bone health and reduces the risk of osteoporosis. If you do experience pain or you're very stiff afterwards try doing a bit less, factor in more rest and check in with your GP, if you need to.
You may be too exhausted even to manage your daily affairs. In most cases, there's a reason for the fatigue. It might be allergic rhinitis, anemia, depression, fibromyalgia, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, lung disease (COPD), a bacterial or viral infection, or some other health condition.
The most common triggers of an OA flare are overdoing an activity or trauma to the joint. Other triggers can include bone spurs, stress, repetitive motions, cold weather, a change in barometric pressure, an infection or weight gain. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory disease that affects the skin and joints.
Arthritis affects a person's overall function and mobility, which can result in activity and other limitations. It is a leading cause of work disability among US adults.
There are drugs that can treat the symptoms, such as painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biological therapies can slow down or stop the arthritis causing the swelling inside the body.
Does arthritis go away? No, but it can be managed. There is no cure for arthritis. However, treatment advances can help to minimize pain, improve range of motion, and prevent further damage.
Many people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) report having trouble thinking clearly, problems with memory, and difficulty concentrating. These symptoms, known as brain fog, can occur in people with chronic inflammatory conditions, including RA, Sjogren's syndrome, and multiple sclerosis.
While cold weather doesn't cause arthritis, it can exacerbate aches and pains. According to the Arthritis Foundation, frigid temperatures can heighten pain sensitivity, slow blood circulation and cause muscle spasms.
Tea is one of the best beverages for arthritis patients due to its many health benefits. Green, black and white teas are all rich in anti-inflammatory compounds like polyphenols. Green tea is generally viewed as the most beneficial because of its active ingredient “epigallocatechin-3-gallate” or EGCG.
Both heat and cold therapy may help ease symptoms of arthritis. Heat may help relieve aches and stiffness, while cold therapy may help ease swelling and pain. Applying heat or cold to affected parts of the body may help relieve the uncomfortable symptoms of arthritis.
Commonly used arthritis medications include: NSAIDs . Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Examples include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve).