TaraLyn posted a link to a video in which doctors discuss PsA. One of the medics touched on sleep disturbances in rheumatic diseases & that struck a real chord with me. Just now my joints are not too bad, it's all 'the other stuff'. And the main problem is lack of sleep.
Just now I sleep very badly for 2 or 3 nights after taking Mtx, so I assume that's what's causing the insomnia. However, all my life sleep has been an issue. A few months before diagnosis I spent a summer in Shetland, working outside dressed up as a Viking doing 'living history' for the benefit of tourists. It was right up my street: working outside in all weathers, meeting loads of people, great break from the teaching job I was sick of ..... but I could not sleep despite getting 'healthily' tired day after day. On the overnight ferry going home I kind of collapsed, could not get off my bunk but couldn't sleep either. I did the drive home from Aberdeen to Shropshire in half hour blasts because my eyes kept closing but still could not sleep as such.
I've tried to fit my sleep problems into PsA just because that's tidier than seeing them as separate. Sometimes these intractable problems just get too boring & confusing to think about properly. But for some reason hearing a doctor on the video stating that sleep disturbances can truly mess up peoples' lives hit me like a steam train. Everything stops me sleeping & always has: being too tired, not being tired, alcohol, work stress, any stress, excitement, boredom, methotrexate ....... the sleep thing precedes PsA for sure. All my life I've slept best after dawn. So the only time I've ever been in sync with my peers was when I was a teenager.
I actually find this shameful. I'm not lazy, I like my life apart from well .... PsA and so on. I'm quite placid by nature, I don't suffer with pain just now, I shouldn't have this issue. Believe me, I've tried everything that's meant to help. Allowing myself to sleep when I can seems to help with the PsA considerably, so much so that I wonder whether I'd ever have got it in the first place if I hadn't get up early every day for years.
I haven’t be able to sleep for the last five years. My itching and pain is just an excuse. Working out doesn’t help. CBT doesn’t help. A shot of benadryl does the trick, but my joints hurt in the morning if I don’t move around while I sleep. My dermatologist thought I was crazy when I said I would trade my clear skin for sleep. Sorry for the rambling and broken thoughts
I have had the same problem off and on my whole life. I believe I had PsA long before I was diagnosed and do see a pattern of not sleeping during flares or when my disease has not been well controlled. Since being on a biologic and mtx my sleeping has improved immensely. I remember prior to this, when the disease was at it's worst though pain was not extreme but fatigue and stiffness was I lived in a grey area neither awake or asleep all the time. It was horrible. Now that my disease is better controlled I find sleeping so restorative. I also do PT and sleep better on the nights I do that. I think it stetches me out in a good way and I am more comfortable. I also take Trazadone and flexeril at bedtime and sometimes take a hot bath prior to bed. I hope you find some relief. It has made a huge difference for me.
I have a problem shutting my mind off at bed time. I've found that since taking the Meds I am having an even harder time falling to sleep. I have nightly rituals that I find help some what chamomile tea, dream cream(also a muscle rub), my heated bean bag and a pillow for between my legs. Last night was not successful as I am currently having a flare in my right hip(buttock) and can't sleep, walking with crutches and using a step stool to get into bed. If it's not pain, it's shutting down my mind.
Getting a sleep study done if you have sleep issues is a good idea.
I've had issues sleeping for most of my life. Right now it's a combination of things - I have OCD, so many night have difficulty shutting my brain down; I have partial fusions which cause me pain if I lay in any one position too long; and I have congestion due to allergies which makes it difficult to sleep. I'm amazed I'm functioning at all during the day.
Taking melatonin before bed helps me tremendously. I take it about fifteen minutes before I'm ready to lay down, get ready for bed, heat up my rice sock / heating pad and then take magnesium (helps muscles relax) and lay down. Some nights this works wonders.
Thanks Nym! My husband just bought melatonin and I thought about trying it, however was unsure with the meds. I'm going to try it :-)
nym said:
Getting a sleep study done if you have sleep issues is a good idea.
I've had issues sleeping for most of my life. Right now it's a combination of things - I have OCD, so many night have difficulty shutting my brain down; I have partial fusions which cause me pain if I lay in any one position too long; and I have congestion due to allergies which makes it difficult to sleep. I'm amazed I'm functioning at all during the day.
Taking melatonin before bed helps me tremendously. I take it about fifteen minutes before I'm ready to lay down, get ready for bed, heat up my rice sock / heating pad and then take magnesium (helps muscles relax) and lay down. Some nights this works wonders.