I have finally given up and now take a sleeping pill. the best decision I have made. I have never slept so well as I have for years as I have in the last 4 days.
Hi, Lainee B! My husband bought us a heated mattress pad and it's been wonderful. He even turns his on at night, too. It takes all the aches and pains away. We even leave it on in the summer so we can turn it on just enough to warm the bed before we get in it and then turn it off. Sounds crazy . . . hot outside and we turn on our heated pad . . . but just the warmth of the bed eases the pain in the joints. Invest in one . . . it'll be the best money you've ever spent.
Lainee B. said:
I just ran out at lunch time and looked into a King Size heated pad for my bed. (dual controls so my hubby can stay cool too.) Kohl's had them for 50% off, but they were still $89.00 on the half off sale (regularly $180!!!). I couldn't quite afford it...but I'll keep my eyes open for one of their really "cheap" sales. I think that it would keep me from waking up so stiff and my joints screaming with pain. SIGH. Just have to keep praying for relief. Thanks for all your advice!
My doctor gives me Tramadol. I do not take it every night. Usually two or three times a week. Some nights it works better then others.
I usually do not post but I went for years (20+) without sleeping more than a few hours at a time all the while raising 4 kids and not knowing at the time I had PsA...to make a long story short finally went to a fantastic family doc that really listened to what I had to say...other doctors always insisted I was an over weight depressed house wife - AND as we know all too well, other people around us look at as and we look fine on the outside. This doc took the time to listen to my symptoms (even found hpylori bacteria in my stomach and I had been complaining for years that my stomach burned all the time, but that's another story) anyway he was genuinely concerned about my sleep issues, which no sleep can cause a lot of health problems. My mother has been addicted to prescription meds all her life so I had always shied away from them but he prescribed me Ristoril, I take the ristoril, 2 benedryl and progesterone every night and whether I sleep 8 - 10 hours or 6, It is such a restful sleep I wake up feeling so different than in years past. After 2 years of my family doc testing me he finally convinced me to go to a Rheumy...he said I couldn't fight it anymore than he knew he could only do so much for me...thats another reason I really like him, he tries to find out what the problem is instead of masking it with more meds. So, to make a long story short, the rheumy he sent me to really knows his stuff (but not much of a sense of humor and I try to joke at everything...he never gets it) but I can so put up with that as long as I feel confident he is doing his best to help me. This past January he wanted to switch me to methotrexate but after reading the side effects I just could not do it...my last visit last week he said that was fine, but to not let this cripple me because I don't want to take a certain medication. I turn 50 this year, which is traumatic enough (LOL, I just can't seem to grow old gracefully) but at the thought of being crippled really bothers me. My body may be 50 but my brain is still at 30! LOL I do agree with other posts about how we can take the pain most any time, but the fatigue can get old really fast - It's been a struggle but I have finally learned what my limits are and so have those close around me...in fact they get annoyed with me because I just keep pushing and pushing myself...I can still climb in the bed of a truck (even tho I pay for it later)and I can still walk around the Junk/Flea Markets, if only for a half a day - So, I sleep really. good but still have to limit myself on what I do. Oh, and the worst part is all the bruising the meds cause...and I don't eat bruised bananas and I don't like looking like one either! Like I said, I don't post much but I do read all your advice and what others have to share. Y'all have a blessed day!
I sleep with a pillow wedge under my back and a pillow elevating my knees. That seems to help my lower back pain somewhat. I find I crave sleeping on my side though! That really hurts my back. My Doctor also advised taking 3 Benadryl before bedtime. That usually gets me 7-8 hours of sleep compared to 5 or 6 without it. I'm groggy for a couple of hours after I awake, but it's worth it.
I move to the couch sometimes to get relief. The couch props me up in a different way and gives my sore spots a break. I hear that many like foam mattress toppers for this issue. I haven't tried that yet, but plan to.
I had to get a sleep number bed. It's amazing. I could do commercials for those things! I also have a pile of pillows under my knees, and a pile at my head to perfectly nestle my neck, which is really screwed up. So between the pillows which looks like a fort in the bed, and the sleep no. bed , and xanax and benadryl I can sleep. I still wake up with pain in my legs and neck, but I am able to get up and going in the morning pretty well. I would love to try the heating pad, I didn't even know they made those.
Thanks Lady Bug...Your story and mine sound familiar. My family doctor diagnosed PsA, my pain doc agreed, but the Rheumy they sent me to said he didn't feel it was PsA. I have all the symptoms, but he said my xrays didn't show enough joint damage. I'm in terrible pain, take pain meds to get through my day, etc. My brother has non-hodgkins lymphoma from taking the Remicaide (so they say) so I really didn't WANT to take more meds (with my family history), I just wanted some answers. So, I feel I'm back to square one. Do I go back to the dermatologist I've seen in the past, or just sit on the sidelines? My dear sister in law bought me a heated mattress pad, which helps me to sleep a lot better. I don't wake up nearly as stiff. Thanks for posting, I appreciate your story!
God Bless, Lainee B.
fadedladybug said:
I usually do not post but I went for years (20+) without sleeping more than a few hours at a time all the while raising 4 kids and not knowing at the time I had PsA...to make a long story short finally went to a fantastic family doc that really listened to what I had to say...other doctors always insisted I was an over weight depressed house wife - AND as we know all too well, other people around us look at as and we look fine on the outside. This doc took the time to listen to my symptoms (even found hpylori bacteria in my stomach and I had been complaining for years that my stomach burned all the time, but that's another story) anyway he was genuinely concerned about my sleep issues, which no sleep can cause a lot of health problems. My mother has been addicted to prescription meds all her life so I had always shied away from them but he prescribed me Ristoril, I take the ristoril, 2 benedryl and progesterone every night and whether I sleep 8 - 10 hours or 6, It is such a restful sleep I wake up feeling so different than in years past. After 2 years of my family doc testing me he finally convinced me to go to a Rheumy...he said I couldn't fight it anymore than he knew he could only do so much for me...thats another reason I really like him, he tries to find out what the problem is instead of masking it with more meds. So, to make a long story short, the rheumy he sent me to really knows his stuff (but not much of a sense of humor and I try to joke at everything...he never gets it) but I can so put up with that as long as I feel confident he is doing his best to help me. This past January he wanted to switch me to methotrexate but after reading the side effects I just could not do it...my last visit last week he said that was fine, but to not let this cripple me because I don't want to take a certain medication. I turn 50 this year, which is traumatic enough (LOL, I just can't seem to grow old gracefully) but at the thought of being crippled really bothers me. My body may be 50 but my brain is still at 30! LOL I do agree with other posts about how we can take the pain most any time, but the fatigue can get old really fast - It's been a struggle but I have finally learned what my limits are and so have those close around me...in fact they get annoyed with me because I just keep pushing and pushing myself...I can still climb in the bed of a truck (even tho I pay for it later)and I can still walk around the Junk/Flea Markets, if only for a half a day - So, I sleep really. good but still have to limit myself on what I do. Oh, and the worst part is all the bruising the meds cause...and I don't eat bruised bananas and I don't like looking like one either! Like I said, I don't post much but I do read all your advice and what others have to share. Y'all have a blessed day!
I have to wrap my aching joints up in ace bandages so that I look like a mummy. I don't know if that would help you any but it doe help with my elbows and knees and wrists.
The fingers still feel like blocks of lead, though.
I, too, have to use Ace wraps when I have a flare on my wrists and fingers, knees, and ankles. Too bad there aren't any for each hip because I sure could use them. I know just how you feel, Petunia Girl! Very painful.
Mom of 2
Petunia Girl said:
I have to wrap my aching joints up in ace bandages so that I look like a mummy. I don't know if that would help you any but it doe help with my elbows and knees and wrists.
The fingers still feel like blocks of lead, though.
Oh gosh, Mom of 2, I almost wrote the exact same thing about wanting Ace bandages for hips but I didn't think anyone else would "get" it! I guess I was (sadly) wrong.
Ugh, I'm sorry to hear about your hips and other joints. But the Ace bandages do help, to some extent. Don't know what I'll do in the middle of summer though
Dittos for the hip issue. However, I hear that people do like the mattress toppers made from memory foam like Temperpedic. I've not looked into it yet myself as it promises to be pricey, though it sounds promising.
Hi Mom of 2,
I bought the Tommy Copper compression shorts and blouse to cover my entire back, hips, pelvis, it is a rather loose thing as compression goes, infused with copper, liked it so much I ordered a knee and ankle, but the fit was wrong so I just sent them back yesterday, can't wait to get them and I plan to get the gloves or wrist wear next.
Anyway that is the best recommendation I can make for the hips.
I wish you relief!
SK
Mom of 2 said:
I, too, have to use Ace wraps when I have a flare on my wrists and fingers, knees, and ankles. Too bad there aren't any for each hip because I sure could use them. I know just how you feel, Petunia Girl! Very painful.
Mom of 2
Petunia Girl said:I have to wrap my aching joints up in ace bandages so that I look like a mummy. I don't know if that would help you any but it doe help with my elbows and knees and wrists.
The fingers still feel like blocks of lead, though.
I also bought the Tommmie Copper compression gloves so my hands would not be so stiff in the morning. They work great! I use a heated mattress pad for the rest of my body! My hubby needs his knees replaced, and we bought him the Tommie Coppers for his knees, they work so well, he recommends them to all his friends. I'd seriously look into them, you have nothing to lose with a money back guarantee. Just my two-cents worth!!!
Lainee B.
Hi. Where can I buy these copper items? Iām in dire need of some sleep relief!
Thanks
Suzanne
check out www.tommiecopper.tv or www.tommiecopper.com
I found the .tv site offered free shipping with the purchase of two or more items. (it saved about $8.00).
Many of our friends have now ordered and also love them. It's a light compression sleeve with copper threads in it. There is an infomercial out on TV about them, which you can watch on the website too.
Good luck Suzanne!
Lainee B.
Suzanne Hall said:
Hi. Where can I buy these copper items? I'm in dire need of some sleep relief!
Thanks
Suzanne
Suzanne,
Until you can find a heated mattress pad, throw your top sheet and blanket in the dryer for 5 minutes before laying down, it will take the chill out of the bed linens.
Just do not use fabric softener or fabric sheets on the Tommy Copper!
Hope it works for you!
SK
Suzanne Hall said:
Hi. Where can I buy these copper items? I'm in dire need of some sleep relief!
Thanks
Suzanne
Thank you so much!
You are welcome, feel better!
Suzanne Hall said:
Thank you so much!
I use a Memory foam mattress topper, a bamboo charcoal mat, and I do a visualization exercise before bed that I can "reuse" upon waking during the night. Oh, and getting good and tired (in or out of bed!) before sleeping helps too!