Rheumatoid Arthritis and Bed Positioning

Experiencing pain during the night is a common complain of people who are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. By preventing people from sleeping, this contributes to the fatigue already experienced by people with this disorder. Thankfully, there are things that you can do to help reduce the pain that you feel during the night if you are suffering from this condition.

Before You Go to Sleep

Before you go to sleep, there are a few things that you can do to prepare yourself. A hot or a cold pack can help reduce stiffness, which is a major contributing factor. If your muscles and joints are aching, than a hot pack is probably best. If, on the other hand, you are experiencing swelling, a cold pack is probably a better choice.

Self massage is another option that can be extraordinarily helpful. If you have a hand held massager this can do a lot to help reduce pain and to help you relax, both of which will help you get to sleep easier. The same is true for massage chairs and massage pads.

If possible, a jacuzzi or water jets in the bath can do a lot to aid you in preparing for sleep. If this is not possible, a hot bath can still do a great deal to help relax your joints.

There are several over the counter drugs that you can take to help you with the pain as well. Ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and asprin are helpful for many people because they reduce pain and cause swelling to drop. Holistic options are available as well, such as creams made with chili peppers that provide warmth in a way that is similar to a hot pad.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Bed Positioning

Bed positioning is extremely important. The way that you choose to sleep can take a great deal of stress off of your joints. An important part of this is what you do with your pillow. If you are laying on your back, the pillow should provide full support for your head, neck, and shoulders. This means that it should be lower than if you were to sleep on your side. You should also place one or two pillows underneath your knees, as this further takes strain off of your back.

When you sleep on your side, you should use the pillow to keep your spine and neck straight. You should aim to keep your weight distributed as evenly as possible so that there is no pressure on your joints. In order to provide yourself with additional support, you may want to use a small pillow or a towel to place under your waist as a wedge pillow. This will also help to keep your spin straight and take unnecessary pressure off of your body.

If you sleep on your stomach, your pillow should either be very flat, or you should rest your head directly on the mattress. If you do not, this will put unnecessary stress on your neck as your head is turned to the side at an unnatural angle. It is also a good idea to place a pillow under your stomach if you sleep in this position, since it helps you to keep your spine in a natural position.

There are pillows designed specifically for your preferred sleep position. To get the most comfortable sleep possible, it is a good idea to take advantage of this. In addition, if your mattress is too firm, you can cover it with a foam topper. Mattress warming pads can also take off a great deal of the pain. Don’t skimp on prices when your sleep is at stake.