Night pain

I find that a cold compress works well for this kind of pain. When I slow down from my day and turn out the lights I often become more aware of various pains. That compress lets me go to sleep. I use one of those pads one keeps in the freezer.

omg kirsty only 24 having RA my hands and wrists are the same in knees and elbows now hate it strong painkillers tramadol i use are u in mtx

I know how you feel. I spent two months with hardly any sleep. My hands would go fully numb and the pain was unbelievable. I was given three lots of extra painkillers. Little would help. It's when you stop moving your hands everything seizes up. I felt like cutting my hands off just to stop it. I was off methotrexate two months due to been sick so that's why I got such a bad flare up. 10 weeks after been back on methotrexate things have calmed down. But still a lot of pain in my hands even when I lift the slightest thing. I wonder would wearing compressed gloves going to bed help ? 

I know its terrible. You just don't know where to put them to get rid of pain.I try ibroprofen gel and lather on them which kind of numbers n lessens pain.Doctor could prescribe u amytriptoline to help you relax and sleep

Hi Kirsty You must see a rheumatologist before taking any medicine. I can feel what you might be going through but still at this stage it is not advisible to suggest any medicine. Although I know some medicines which I have and am taking for similor symptoms. As you know the symptoms and conditions vary from person to person. So let the doctor decide which medicines you should take. Wish u a speedy recovery and good luck

Hi Kirsty, have you tried ice packs? I find they can help. I am lucky that my hubby will go up and down stairs swapping them in the freezer.

​In the short term would you and your doctor  consider oral steroids to help till you get your symptoms under a little better control? Could make a huge difference?

​I do understand the pain can be unbearable, like Clare I really felt I could have cut my hands off but it will get better. Honest. Carol xx

I have the same issue. I have some ugly nodules growing on my left wrist which seems to be the hot spot with my RA lately. I've tried many things for this, but the one I like the best is a soft neoprene wrist support with velcro so I can tighten or loosen as needed. It seems this disease really likes to come alive when we are trying to sleep..ugh. I struggle with my hips, hands, neck and feet all night. I don't take hard core pain killers, just a couple ibuprofen before bed when it gets real bad. I'm on Enbrel only right now. MTX injections didn't agree with me, and Plaquinel didn't help. My doc wants to add sulfasalazine, but I haven't decided yet. Best of luck to you, I hope you find something that works!

You need to speak to doctor.Mine prescribed amitriptyline plus paracetamol (quick action)and tramadol slow release to aid my sleep and touch wood most nights it works.Hope you get sorted soon

Consider what you've eaten in the past 1-2 days (up to 72 hours). Direct link between food, gut health and RA (and most auto-immune diseases.

There are proven dietary changes to make to get inflammation and pain - and ultimately RA under full control. I'm following such a program.

All the best to you.