I started taking Ambien to get through the night...but then the morning pain was worse. So....now I take Tramadol and Ambien at bedtime and hope I get a good nights sleep. Doesn't always work. I'm currently taking Arava and Humira. Only have one more injection of Humira and the rheumy will be changing me to an infusion med if things don't get better.

Have you tried any of the dmards together?

I stopped the mtx and sulfasalazine because I couldn't tolerate them. I'm hoping the Arava goes better. I always take 2-3 tramadol before bed but by 2-3am I guess it's worn off enough to feel lots of pain. I've tried taking ambian but it still happens and I feel like the sleep is not quality sleep.

Hi Iretz, sorry to hear about your pain and sleep problem. On occasion I have had that issue and I wake up like now in pain. But what pain medication are you on? Prednisone is of no use when you are in pain pain. I have been on Tramadol, and on nucenta and percocet since I have had a TKR. So depending on the number the pain is I will have to take something for the pain. I usually get on the computer until the pain medication takes affect. It is so tough when you are trying to get some sleep.I hope you are able to get a little sleep at some point.

I guess it is the common problem with a lot of forms of arthritis. I have AS, and sleepless nights seem to be a classic. I can't remember that I have ever been free of pain or had a whole night of sleep. People without this kind of issue are unable to understand the side effects we have to face. Poor sleep, the resulting lack of energy- the resulting problems at work. It is not the disease alone and for itself that creates some moments of hell- it is all the rest that is involved and makes life more than difficult at times. Especially if you have to face it alone.

Tretz, glad you brought up this topic. I'm wondering about this too. I don't remember the last time I slept through the night, At most, i sleep for five hours and then something hurts. Sometimes just getting up and walking around is enough to help. Other times I take tramadol and that helps. But, more often than not, I need to get up for about an hour, move around, then watch TV or do something on the computer before I can get back to sleep.

I can't help but think that lack of sleep and/or interrupted sleep is really not good. It has to affect our ability to deal with this disease.

NIght pain seems to be always the worse because our body is calm/tired and relaxed so the muscles figure it is time to play :( A lot of people have to try to take some kind of meds to be able to sleep .

Wow, this party is bigger than I thought it was. I sleep no more than 1 to 2 hours at a time. I keep a tablet on my night stand so I can read or whatever until I feel I can sleep again. I am very fortunate in that my hubby will wake up and talk to me when ever. Even when I take a percoset, I am not able to sleep continuously through the night. Often when I take a gabapentin, I will sleep almost through with only waking once or twice. No wonder my rheumy didn't seem too alarmed when I told him sleep was not happening. It seems it is fairly common. I am sorry for you all that have trouble, but I see I am in good company.
I wish you all Sweet Dreams!
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I have a terrible time sleeping on more than 10 Mgs of pred. My rheumy gives me something to take as needed for sleep. Used to be Valium, but that gave me morning headaches. Now I have a low dose muscle relaxer. I sleep through the night mostly- but man, the early morning pain is bad!!

i have to be on the road early in the morning. i am afraid of grogginess.

when i am desperate i take a muscle relaxer and mtx having failed me long ago, I am now able to drink whiskey with it IF I am not working the next day.

otherwise i wrap joints in heating blankets and wear splints then cover those in heating pads and cry. it's actually a relief to be at work the next day when i have those kinds of nights. the greater the pain for me the greater the fatigue so sometimes in the middle of shooting pain wrapped up like this i pass out.

Ros

Ah, how I can relate! It's 4:20 am and I've given up on sleep and decided to take a bath for my painful joints. In addition to being in a flare, I also have Fibromyalgia and a breathing related sleep disorder. I have tried many meds for sleep and nighttime pain, but refreshing sleep eludes me. Disturbed sleep definitely has an impact on cognitive performance, overall health, and overall mood, particularly if the deprivation is prolonged. Next week I have a sleep study to clinically assess sleep and see if anything can be done to help. All the best!

Wow, thank you all for your responses and experiences. I see that unfortunately it is a common problem. Here's to all of us getting a solid nights sleep!!