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Coping with arthritis pain at night
I have arthritis pain, and experience this now in my entire body. I cannot take Tylenol, aspirin, nsaids due to chronic gastritis and EPI. I cope with the pain during the day through exercise, stretching and keeping busy. The nights are the problem. I fall asleep easily because I’m tired. I wake up in pain after a 2-3 hours and then toss and turn, get up and stretch, practice deep breathing and try to go back to sleep or read if I can focus enough to do that. I start my day around 6am and do NOT rest during the day so I can try to encourage my body to rest at night.
I choose to not request other options such as opioids or sleep medications. I do use melatonin but as I said, falling asleep is NOT the issue. Getting ENOUGH sleep is the problem. No dreams for me as I don’t enter the phase of rest to do so.
Any ideas???
I am extremely active and use a lateral elliptical at the gym 5 days a week, (4 miles in 32 minutes” and absolutely LOVE it because after the first half mile I am able to “ditch” the pain.
The nights and lack of sleep is my biggest problem at this point…any suggestions out there??! I DO use Voltaren gel but at night the effect doesn’t last long enough to get enough sleep.
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My drug is Klonopin, similar to Ativan. My neurologist prescribed enough for the year (sixty 0.5mg pills) but my PCP is very stingy with it. Like, 4 pills for flying and that's it. I feel it helps with sleep, afib, neck spasms, migaines, vertigo, spinal pain and probably a lot more things. I take 1/4 pill for a total of 4-5 pills/month. I am so glad you have a PCP who understands and provides what you need. These meds are so helpful.
I have a similar problem with arthritis pain at night, less so during the day, since I am involved in sports activities and the brain is busy; so, easier to ignore pain. I do not like to take medications either. The following things have helped me. I am retired:
1-Icing after intense physical activity.
2-Stretching before and after physical activity. In fact, daily stretching routine before leaving the bed.
3-Try to have a rest day in between with casual walking, stretching.
4-Massaging the joints with (a) Soaking a small cloth with warm Apple Cider Vinegar. (b) using electrical massaging tool (available @amazon.com). I think improved blood circulation may have something to do with it!
5-Meditation
It does not completely eliminate the pain but makes it more manageable.
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1 ReactionGood advice--a daily morning walk also helps keep the surrounding muscles loose, so they are not adding to pain. Lidocaine patches are wonderful. At night, I do the stretches and also take an NSAID so that I get good sleep and keep inflammation at bay. My bed is a medium posturpedic spring bed with a 3", 3lb topper. Physical therapy is worthwhile to learn new stretches and also to become more familiar with what you can do for relief.
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