Why is arthritis worse in the morning

Doing it first thing in the morning can help loosen you up but if that is too much, doing it later in the day is still helpful. Get the latest arthritis news in your inbox. Sign up for CreakyJoints and hear about the latest research updates and medical news that could affect you. CreakyJoints is a digital community for millions of arthritis patients and caregivers worldwide who seek education, support, advocacy, and patient-centered research. We present patients through our popular social media channels, our website CreakyJoints.

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Was This Helpful? Share Facebook Twitter Email. Rheumatoid Arthritis Diet Patient Stories. Subscribe to CreakyJoints for more related content. Researchers have several theories to explain why many people with arthritis experience worse pain at night.

In people with rheumatoid arthritis RA , the body releases less of the anti-inflammatory chemical cortisol at night, increasing inflammation-related pain. Additionally, the body releases higher levels of melatonin and prolactin at night, both of which can cause an increase in inflammatory cytokines.

Many studies show a link between arthritis and sleep deprivation. People with arthritis may have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. They may also report lower quality sleep due to the pain that the condition causes. A study involving people with arthritis and 76 matched controls found that The issues included:.

A study reached a similar conclusion. The researchers compared people with arthritis — with RA and 58 with osteoarthritis OA — with 51 people with no arthritis. Both studies also found a link between arthritis and mental health.

People with arthritis were more likely to report marital problems and experience depression, suggesting that insomnia may be a reaction not only to arthritis but also to stress. The link between arthritis pain and sleep goes in both directions. For example, arthritis can make it difficult to sleep, but sleep deprivation can also worsen arthritis pain.

A study found that pain intensified as sleep worsened. In addition, a study found that people with knee OA who had poor quality sleep were more likely to ruminate on their pain. As insomnia can make pain worse, it is important that people with arthritis take steps to improve their sleep, as well as treating their pain.

Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Updated visitor guidelines. Top of the page. Comparing Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis. Topic Overview Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis are different types of arthritis. Characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis Characteristic Rheumatoid arthritis Osteoarthritis Age at which the condition starts It may begin any time in life.

It usually begins later in life. Speed of onset Relatively rapid, over weeks to months Slow, over years Joint symptoms Joints are painful, swollen, and stiff. Joints ache and may be tender but have little or no swelling. Pattern of joints that are affected It often affects small and large joints on both sides of the body symmetrical , such as both hands, both wrists or elbows, or the balls of both feet.

In some people, firm swellings called rheumatoid nodules can also develop under the skin around affected joints. As well as problems affecting the joints, some people with rheumatoid arthritis have more general symptoms, such as:. The inflammation that's part of rheumatoid arthritis can also sometimes cause problems in other areas of the body, such as:.

Find out more about the complications of rheumatoid arthritis. Page last reviewed: 28 August Next review due: 28 August Symptoms affecting the joints Rheumatoid arthritis mainly affects the joints.