People with RA are more likely to suffer disturbed sleep than people of a similar age who don't have RA. Sleep disturbance is usually worse when your pain is worse, and it's linked to increased anxiety and depression as well as morning stiffness and fatigue.
While the exact percentage of RA patients who experience sleep problems is hard to nail down, more than 80% of people with RA report fatigue as part of their symptoms. Sleep problems can increase levels of stress hormones and aggravate flares, says Rochelle Rosian, MD, a Cleveland Clinic rheumatologist.
In people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the body releases less of the anti-inflammatory chemical cortisol at night, increasing inflammation-related pain.
People with rheumatoid arthritis typically have several permanently inflamed joints. The inflammation inside the body can lead to general physical weakness, drowsiness and exhaustion. This feeling of extreme tiredness is also called "fatigue." Some people find this to be the worst symptom of the disease.
The typical case of rheumatoid arthritis begins insidiously, with the slow development of signs and symptoms over weeks to months. Often the patient first notices stiffness in one or more joints, usually accompanied by pain on movement and by tenderness in the joint.
Symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis include: Pain, swelling, stiffness and tenderness in more than one joint. Stiffness, especially in the morning or after sitting for long periods. Pain and stiffness in the same joints on both sides of your body.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has many physical and social consequences and can lower quality of life. It can cause pain, disability, and premature death. Premature heart disease. People with RA are also at a higher risk for developing other chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.
Pain. The joint pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis is usually a throbbing and aching pain. It is often worse in the mornings and after a period of inactivity.
But it's important to find a balance between rest and exercise. Rest will make inflamed joints feel more comfortable, but without movement your joints will stiffen and your muscles will become weaker.
A person with RA may feel intense pain in their joints during flares. This can feel like sustained pressure, a burning sensation, or a sharp pain. However, people with RA may also experience periods of remission when they feel few to no symptoms. In addition to causing joint pain, RA can affect the whole body.
Elevate Your Legs and Find the Right Position
It can be helpful to slide a pillow under your knees, if you sleep on your back, to alleviate pressure on knee joints, hips, and back while you sleep. If you're a side sleeper, place a pillow or two between your knees, advises the Arthritis Foundation.
As the disease is controlled (inflammation decreases), and as people adapt with behavioral changes, fatigue becomes less prominent. This has been my experience as I feel less fatigue now than I did at the disease's beginnings, almost 30 years ago. Pain, unremitting pain can also play its part.
Living with rheumatoid arthritis isn't always easy. One reason is because it's often difficult to predict the symptoms: They may get better or worse the next day – it's hard to know in advance. Having a "bad" day can be very difficult and make some people feel like they have fallen down into a deep dark hole.
Methotrexate is usually the first medicine given for rheumatoid arthritis, often with another DMARD and a short course of steroids (corticosteroids) to relieve any pain. These may be combined with biological treatments.
In the study, the median survival rate for healthy adults was approximately 82 years while the median survival rate for people with RA was approximately 77 years.
Joint pain and morning stiffness are the most common early warning signs of RA. The joint pain of RA has some unique characteristics that separate it from joint pain due to other causes. The characteristics of joint pain caused by RA are: Multiple joints are affected at once (typically more than three joints).
Staying hydrated is vital when you live with arthritis. Hydration is key for flushing toxins out of your body, which can help fight inflammation, and well-hydrated cartilage reduces the rate of friction between bones, meaning you can move more easily.
No blood test can definitively prove or rule out a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, but several tests can show indications of the condition. Some of the main blood tests used include: erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) – which can help assess levels of inflammation in the body.
Signs and symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include: Tender, warm, swollen joints. Joint stiffness that is usually worse in the mornings and after inactivity. Fatigue, fever and loss of appetite.