Anyone Wake Up in Pain in Early Morning and Crying?
This started for me last spring. Then it dissipated. Now it is back. I fall asleep after taking my Advil Tylenol combination plus two antiacids at 10:30 and wake up at 2:30 to use the bathroom than about 3:45 to 4:00 wake up with my upper body and arms aching so much and I start to cry from the pain. At this point I have been taking another Advil to stop the pain and fall back to sleep until 6. I have no pain when I fall asleep at 11.
Hi,
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First off, I am so sorry you are dealing with this again. And, my first question here may seem a little dumb, but have you talked to your doctor about the pain episodes you are experiencing? Have you noticed any other patterns to these episodes, like does it happen more when you are stressed or when the weather is severe or when you are eating differently? And, it's okay if you see no patterns at all -- RA really likes to keep a person guessing.
One of our contributors wrote about having to try new sleep positions (and had to move frequently during the night) to avoid morning pain and stiffness; or at least minimize the pain and stiffness -- https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/sleeping-positions. I only mention this because I learned that I tend to sleep very clenched up when I am stressed out and it makes for painful mornings.
I wanted to share this link because the author discusses frequently waking up in the wee hours of the morning with a racing mind and stiffness -- https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/morning-worse-symptoms. I know you are not alone in the struggle to get quality sleep and I hope other community members that have dealt with nighttime pain see your post and chime in here. You deserve to get a good night's sleep!
Gentle Hugs, Erin, Team Member.
Ouch! Waking up in pain like that, especially to the point of tears, must be incredibly exhausting. I'm so sorry you have to deal with this. Since this pain returned after dissipating last spring, have you noticed any changes in your routine, stress levels, or environmental factors that might be triggering it again? It could also be helpful to track these episodes—such as the timing, intensity, and any factors that might be involved so you can share this information with your doctor. Recognizing any patterns could provide valuable insight and help guide adjustments to your treatment plan. I truly hope you find some relief and resolve to this soon. Hang in there 💜 -Latoya (Team Member)
