Yes it is.I found that working out even just a littlr bit helps me to sleep. Also those wrist bands with the magnet helps.

Thank you JC.... it is indeed a good article. I NEVER sleep the whole night. I haven't since shortly before I was diagnosed. The pain wakes me every time I move. I can't sleep on one side for very long before the pain starts on that side so I have to turn over. I do that all night. Getting up is a nightmare (no pun intended).

That being said... I am not a good candidate for prescription anything! Haven't been able to exercise for the last 6 months due to fluid on the knees and excruciating pain. :-( I generally have a glass of red wine before bed... I always fall right asleep. I attribute that to the exhaustion I feel from the doggone war I fight every day.

I wonder if anyone else could contribute ideas that don't involve drugs???

I have the worst time sleeping.....Some nights I don't sleep at all.I have been on sleeping meds for years my ambein stopped working so she put me on lunesta but it leaves a nasty taste in my mouth that makes me sick...I go back to doctor on Friday I want some thing eles....

GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS

I've been having trouble sleeping for the past year or so. Not sure if it's from the RA or from other health issues...but I know my pain tolerance goes WAY down if I don't get a good night's sleep. I've been trying a homeopathic remedy for insomnia that seems to help a bit. It's from Hyland's and is their Insomnia formula. If I can get to sleep I usually stay asleep fairly well--but it's just drifting off that seems to take too long some nights. Good luck!

Another thing to think about if you don't sleep well is sleep apnea - I had been dx'd with that years ago when morbidly obese before my GBP surgery. I lost 110 lbs with the surgery - stopped my CPAP.

Fast forward to this year...still not sleeping great (RA dx was 4 years ago) Had my sleep study repeated and STILL need CPAP!!

See if your insurance will pay for a sleep study - I got SUCH better sleep with a CPAP, and had so much less fatigue with it way back...Can't wait to get my new machine and get some good sleep again!!!

Well, I think sleep is overrated... I haven't slept a whole night thru in about 13 years, I don't know what that would even feel like anymore. I am up about evey 2 hours and more often then not, I can not go back to sleep, I do not nap either, then Im over tired.... I love to hear what an all nighters sleep must feel like. I will not take sleep meds but have taken valaruim(sp) which is a natural sleep aid, can't take it for to long, it stops working so I just deal with it... Here's to zzzzzzzz's :O))

I do have some trouble sleeping, but I really have to say that my bed helps. I have a Select Comfort Sleep Number bed that I set on a really, really soft setting. Then I have about three pillows that I arrange just so. This really seems to help!

I used to fall asleep easy and stay asleep til morning - UNTIL I got RA - now I never sleep through the night and sometimes when I move, if it's a bad time, I find myself like crying out!!! Sleep - well I think about once every six days I pass out. Tried sleep aid, but I still was woken up with pain. Feels like there's no blood flow going to my arms and hands and I have to sit up. Watch alot of Criminal Minds, Frasier and Lifetime movies

I wouldn't get any sleep at all if it weren't for Ambien. It has truly been a miracle drug for me. I still can't sleep a whole night without waking up from the pain but at least I can usually get in about 4 or 5 hours before I just can't take laying in bed anymore.

I have to take something to sleep every night, oh for the days of being young and "sleeping like a baby!" I'll never fight taking a nap again, no never! LOL. My dr. gave me an rx for lorazepam (ativan) and 1 mg helps me a lot, and no bad drowsiness in the morning. It usually helps my RA pain thru the night too- but then I'm not having too much of that currently-