Have You Experienced This Sort of Pain?
Working at night, I was trying to sleep today and both knees were swollen and very painful.
Pain turning in bed
Pain in all positions
Pain propped with pillows
Etc Etc Etc
An hour before the alarm, I gave up and decided to get up. First three steps were extremely stiff and my walking was very guarded. By step five?
Pain gone! A little stiff and still very swollen. Not red. Not hot.
I went downstairs to get the mail? No Pain. I came back up the stairs? No Pain.
I don't have time to go back to bed and see if the pain returns but this is completely new to me.
Have you ever had something like this?
Hi
. Thanks so much for reaching out. What an odd experience, it sounds like you had. I would be very curious to hear if other community members have experienced something similar, so hopefully they'll chime in here and share with you. I know this happened several days ago, has it since happened again? Or any other discoveries you've had about the pain since posting? -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member) Thanks! I was wondering if this was what I have read about severe stiffness that I was calling pain? I did get up in the middle of my sleep tye next time it happened, walked around a bit and went back to bed feeling better. It is not restless leg or leg cramps.
I sometimes an just clueless. 😆
Thank you for responding. It means a lot. 🩷❤️🌷that's so interesting. It certainly could be severe stiffness. But I would say that you aren't clueless. It's the RA that keeps you guessing and wondering. I think even some of our advocates who have been living with RA for 30(?)ish years can still be surprised by what comes along, or what changes.
I'm glad that you've found a way to manage the stiffness/pain and that the walking around helps it feel better. And don't hesitate to mention it to your doctor at your next appointment - just so they can keep track of your symptoms and investigate if needed.
Also, I just wanted to share this article with you. It's a collection of advice from the community on ways they combat morning stiffness, https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/6-ways-to-combat-morning-stiffness-tips-from-the-ra-community. I know your stiffness isn't necessarily in the morning, but I thought there still might be some tips or tricks that you might find helpful.
Wishing you a gentle night! -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member)
Thank you! you're very welcome! So glad to have you a part of the community here. -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member)
, I have a suggestion from my PT guy that might help your knee pain and stiffness when you take those first steps.
I broke my femur in two a while ago. Repair included beefing up my replaced knee with additional hardware. I battle with this knee on a regular basis - pain, swelling - with my first morning steps being pretty awful.
My therapist recommended doing heel slides in bed before asking my knee to do anything. It seems to help. He said the heel slides get the knee joint moving without asking it to bear weight.
Wishing you easier steps!what a great tip! Thanks so much for sharing it with Julie. I love seeing our community members look out for, and share with, each other. -- Warmly, Christine (Team Member)
