Guest guest Posted November 20, 2006 Report Share Posted November 20, 2006 I have the same thing. I think the stiffness in the morning is bad but then towards night or even when I am in bed my joints can be throbbing so I would say it is pretty normal. The stress and being tired probably makes the pain worse. Joy S Cloud <tikicloud@...> wrote: At this time I would say 90% of my pain and stiffness in my feet and ankles is in the first hour after I get out of bed. I'd say that 75% of the pain and stiffness in my hands and wrists and fingers is also in the morning, but it lasts a little longer. I usually don't take any medication for it, I just use a balm, massage, heat, etc. Then, in the evening, usually around 7-8pm, I have noticed a sudden flare of stiffness and sharp pain that lasts until I break down and hit the Ibuprofen (or tonight, I hit both Ibuprofen and Darvocet). The sharpness of it and the sudden return of it don't seem to fit anything I've read or heard about RA. Could it just be that it's from all the activities I do during the day? I volunteer at my kids schools some, I quilt, cook, help care for three seriously ill family members (I am an LPN, but I haven't " worked " as one for two years). That makes sense, and that's the usual pattern: work on a quilt for 3 hours, have pain later. But some nights, like tonight, it just happens and I can't pin a cause. Any ideas? Anyone else get this? Does something like this late evening pain mean I might not actually have RA? As usual, all advice, opinions, links, helpful words, and happy thoughts are greatly appreciated. Joy ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Visit Joy's Homepage and Reading Room! http://jhoormann-ivil.tripod.com Come see My Dog Salsa! http://www.geocities.com/jhoorm01/Salsa.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 20, 2006 Report Share Posted November 20, 2006 Hello, My pain is normally worse in the evening too. Sorry. Pennie Re: [ ] Late evening pains I have the same thing. I think the stiffness in the morning is bad but then towards night or even when I am in bed my joints can be throbbing so I would say it is pretty normal. The stress and being tired probably makes the pain worse. Joy S Cloud <tikicloudgmail (DOT) com> wrote: At this time I would say 90% of my pain and stiffness in my feet and ankles is in the first hour after I get out of bed. I'd say that 75% of the pain and stiffness in my hands and wrists and fingers is also in the morning, but it lasts a little longer. I usually don't take any medication for it, I just use a balm, massage, heat, etc. Then, in the evening, usually around 7-8pm, I have noticed a sudden flare of stiffness and sharp pain that lasts until I break down and hit the Ibuprofen (or tonight, I hit both Ibuprofen and Darvocet). The sharpness of it and the sudden return of it don't seem to fit anything I've read or heard about RA. Could it just be that it's from all the activities I do during the day? I volunteer at my kids schools some, I quilt, cook, help care for three seriously ill family members (I am an LPN, but I haven't " worked " as one for two years). That makes sense, and that's the usual pattern: work on a quilt for 3 hours, have pain later. But some nights, like tonight, it just happens and I can't pin a cause. Any ideas? Anyone else get this? Does something like this late evening pain mean I might not actually have RA? As usual, all advice, opinions, links, helpful words, and happy thoughts are greatly appreciated. Joy ~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ Visit Joy's Homepage and Reading Room! http://jhoormann- ivil.tripod. com Come see My Dog Salsa! http://www.geocitie s.com/jhoorm01/ Salsa.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2006 Report Share Posted November 21, 2006 Henci , It does sound like you have a lot on your plate and there is a possibility you could be overdoing it. I try to stay active but also take frequent breaks to avoid overdoing it or I pay the price later. And I often pay the price because it is sometimes hard to gauge what RA allows from one day to the next. The condition can be so unpredictable without proper control of the inflammation. You sound very upbeat and proactive in your care. I guess it helps having a nursing background. Do you have help with caring for the sick family members? Maybe you can cut back some in that area or not so much quilting. Is the pain adequately controlled otherwise? But then again, your RA sounds like it is very active. I remember the doctor telling me my RA was in a disease state right away. I know I had a flare every time I got out of bed for years barely able to make it to the bathroom. I was also allergic to my surroundings, carpet fibers, dust, etc. When I moved my sleeping area away from certain things I felt better. Not even frequent dusting and air filters helped. I had to actually leave the room. I still wake up very stiff and sore several times a week, it just isn't a flare with the usual fever and chills like it used to be. This condition affects us all so differently. It sometimes helps me to take the anti-inflammatories before going to bed or take them close to bedtime. The joints seem to jell over when still for too long and the anti-inflammatories helped with that. However, remember to protect your stomach. Stomach irritation doesn't allow me to do that anymore but it helped me in the past. Taking antiinflammatories in the mornings the way they were prescribed didn't help mw. Others say take the pain meds the moment you wake up and that helps them. That didn't work for me because the pain had already gotten out of control while I slept and it would take most of the morning to get it under control with taking them in the morning only. It could be what I was taking wasn't strong enough but I had ibuprofen 800 mg for years and I would also take medrol dose paks off and on or corticosteroid injections off and on each year. wishing you the best. healing pain relief energy to you, Ebony > > At this time I would say 90% of my pain and stiffness in my feet and > ankles is in the first hour after I get out of bed. I'd say that 75% > of the pain and stiffness in my hands and wrists and fingers is also > in the morning, but it lasts a little longer. I usually don't take > any medication for it, I just use a balm, massage, heat, etc. > > Then, in the evening, usually around 7-8pm, I have noticed a sudden > flare of stiffness and sharp pain that lasts until I break down and > hit the Ibuprofen (or tonight, I hit both Ibuprofen and Darvocet). > The sharpness of it and the sudden return of it don't seem to fit > anything I've read or heard about RA. > > Could it just be that it's from all the activities I do during the > day? I volunteer at my kids schools some, I quilt, cook, help care > for three seriously ill family members (I am an LPN, but I > haven't " worked " as one for two years). That makes sense, and that's > the usual pattern: work on a quilt for 3 hours, have pain later. But > some nights, like tonight, it just happens and I can't pin a cause. > > Any ideas? Anyone else get this? Does something like this late > evening pain mean I might not actually have RA? > > As usual, all advice, opinions, links, helpful words, and happy > thoughts are greatly appreciated. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 21, 2006 Report Share Posted November 21, 2006 Dennis, I'm like you in that it is very hard for me to get back to sleep once I'm up. But that is an alernative and worth giving it a try anyway. Thanks for all of the helpful tips. peace and healing, Ebony > " >It sometimes helps me to > > take the anti-inflammatories before going to bed or take them close > > to bedtime. The joints seem to jell over when still for too long and > > the anti-inflammatories helped with that. However, remember to > > protect your stomach. Stomach irritation doesn't allow me to do that > > anymore but it helped me in the past. Taking antiinflammatories in > > the mornings the way they were prescribed didn't help mw. Others say > > take the pain meds the moment you wake up and that helps them. " > > One of my aunts that had a bad case of RA wanted to do better in the > mornings, so she set her alarm to wake her up at about 4:00 AM. She had her > anti-inflammatory and water by the bed, so she took it and went back to > sleep until her normal rising time. It worked for her, so I tried it. I have > a problem that when I wake up, I'm awake and can't do anything about it. It > didn't work right for me, but the rest of you might find some help in doing > that. > > Dennis in Eastexas > " It's not Rocket Surgery " > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 22, 2006 Report Share Posted November 22, 2006 I _sort of_ do the same thing, though I don't plan it. Usually by 3 or 4 AM the Tramodol I took at bed time has completely worn off. I'll roll over in my sleep and the pain in either my hips or shoulders will wake me up. I take some more Tramodol and go back to sleep. There's enough still in my system to get me through those stiff couple of hours in the morning. > " >It sometimes helps me to > > take the anti-inflammatories before going to bed or take them close > > to bedtime. The joints seem to jell over when still for too long and > > the anti-inflammatories helped with that. However, remember to > > protect your stomach. Stomach irritation doesn't allow me to do that > > anymore but it helped me in the past. Taking antiinflammatories in > > the mornings the way they were prescribed didn't help mw. Others say > > take the pain meds the moment you wake up and that helps them. " > > One of my aunts that had a bad case of RA wanted to do better in the > mornings, so she set her alarm to wake her up at about 4:00 AM. She had her > anti-inflammatory and water by the bed, so she took it and went back to > sleep until her normal rising time. It worked for her, so I tried it. I have > a problem that when I wake up, I'm awake and can't do anything about it. It > didn't work right for me, but the rest of you might find some help in doing > that. > > Dennis in Eastexas > " It's not Rocket Surgery " > > [ ] Re: Late evening pains > > > > Henci , > > > > It does sound like you have a lot on your plate and there is a > > possibility you could be overdoing it. I try to stay active but also > > take frequent breaks to avoid overdoing it or I pay the price later. > > And I often pay the price because it is sometimes hard to gauge what > > RA allows from one day to the next. The condition can be so > > unpredictable without proper control of the inflammation. > > > > You sound very upbeat and proactive in your care. I guess it helps > > having a nursing background. > > > > Do you have help with caring for the sick family members? Maybe you > > can cut back some in that area or not so much quilting. Is the pain > > adequately controlled otherwise? > > > > But then again, your RA sounds like it is very active. I remember > > the doctor telling me my RA was in a disease state right away. I > > know I had a flare every time I got out of bed for years barely able > > to make it to the bathroom. I was also allergic to my > > surroundings, carpet fibers, dust, etc. When I moved my sleeping > > area away from certain things I felt better. Not even frequent > > dusting and air filters helped. I had to actually leave the room. I > > still wake up very stiff and sore several times a week, it just isn't > > a flare with the usual fever and chills like it used to be. This > > condition affects us all so differently. It sometimes helps me to > > take the anti-inflammatories before going to bed or take them close > > to bedtime. The joints seem to jell over when still for too long and > > the anti-inflammatories helped with that. However, remember to > > protect your stomach. Stomach irritation doesn't allow me to do that > > anymore but it helped me in the past. Taking antiinflammatories in > > the mornings the way they were prescribed didn't help mw. Others say > > take the pain meds the moment you wake up and that helps them. That > > didn't work for me because the pain had already gotten out of control > > while I slept and it would take most of the morning to get it under > > control with taking them in the morning only. It could be what I was > > taking wasn't strong enough but I had ibuprofen 800 mg for years and > > I would also take medrol dose paks off and on or corticosteroid > > injections off and on each year. > > > > wishing you the best. > > > > healing pain relief energy to you, > > Ebony > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 22, 2006 Report Share Posted November 22, 2006 I think I mentioned it at one point or another, but I'm sure I haven't made a big deal about it. I didn't even know there WAS a long acting version. My rheumatologist just left the practice, and I have to go to a new one. But when I have my appointment with the new person, I'll definitely ask him about it. Thanks! > > , > > Does your rheumatologist know this is a frequent problem for you? Maybe she > could suggest a sustained-release formulation so that you could make it > through the night without waking to take pain medication. Good quality sleep > is so important. > > > > Not an MD > > I'll tell you where to go! > > Mayo Clinic in Rochester > http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester > > s Hopkins Medicine > http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org > > > > [ ] Re: Late evening pains > > > >I _sort of_ do the same thing, though I don't plan it. Usually by 3 > > or 4 AM the Tramodol I took at bed time has completely worn off. > > I'll roll over in my sleep and the pain in either my hips or > > shoulders will wake me up. I take some more Tramodol and go back to > > sleep. There's enough still in my system to get me through those > > stiff couple of hours in the morning. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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