Medically, arthritis is a condition in where a person experiences stiffness and massive inflammation on the joints. It affects the normal locomotion of the body, as well as your other physical activities.
The pain of arthritis is something that you can't ignore. You can even feel it even while you are attempting to sleep. Accordingly, 80% of people who have arthritis have difficulties in sleeping. I haven't experienced such predicament, and I am hoping that I wouldn't. However, my folks were also stricken with it. Although they are taking medications, they still practice healthy habits to alleviate the pain.
Here are some of the sleep tips for arthritis that you should try:
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1
Select a Good Mattress
The very first thing that I did when I learned that my folks have arthritis is to get them a nice mattress. Of course, the mattress is just a plush where you can feel comfortable. Instead, I invested in a unit that has a medium level of firmness so that it can support their bodies. Since they are not that heavy, the mattress was able to conform to their profile without sinking them.
There is a huge difference between ordinary mattresses and products that offer therapeutic support. If you have body aches, you should consider the latter. Also, if you have a particular sleeping posture, make sure that you get a mattress that suits your sleeping position. In this way, the pressure points of your body won't be aggravated.
2
Use Your Pillows Wisely
Pillows are among the sleeping essentials in our beds. Without them, sleeping would be difficult or incomplete. For people with arthritis, it is necessary that you utilize your pillows ergonomically.
For instance, whenever I sleep on my back, I usually place a small pillow on my neck so that it won't get stiff. In the case of arthritis, one should know first where the pain often occurs. People with knee arthritis would need to place a pillow between their knees.
However, of course, I am not talking about ordinary pillows here. Knee arthritis would require a wedge pillow. If the arthritis is located on the neck, the pillow should be firm but not too thick. Otherwise, it will cause straining of the muscles.
3
Work with Your Sleeping Habits
One of the very reasons why people can't have a pleasant evening repose is because of their poor sleeping habits. Even without any bodily conditions, some people have difficulties in sleeping. Over time, this problem grows more severe and can cause nasty sleep deterrents such as insomnia.
People with no good sleeping habits are prone to experience higher complications in resting once they are diagnosed with conditions like arthritis. Fortunately, it is not too late for anyone to get a new start.
There are practices that you should try to optimize your sleep. Here are some of them:
4
Exercise
Of course, one of the most natural remedies for arthritis is exercise. Now, I know that a lot of you are conflicted if a person with muscle pain is still suitable for rigorous activities. The simple answer? Yes.
You see, letting your joints and muscles go sedentary will make them susceptible to pain. They should be utilized healthily so that the stiffness and aching would be reduced. The more you exercise, the more you can lessen the severity of arthritis. However, I do recommend that you talk with your doctor first about the appropriate routines that you can do based on your condition.
Moreover, if the symptoms of the conditions are gone, sleeping would be a lot easier! Besides, exercise alone can improve the quality of your sleep.
5
Get Treatment
You can't shove away arthritis entirely unless you undergo a comprehensive treatment. That's how things work here--whether you are like it or not. Fortunately, there is a myriad of options you can try for arthritis medication.
Medications like analgesics, topical analgesics, and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are the entry-level solutions for arthritis. Physical therapy is also great, but that would require supervision from your attending physician. Some are already exploring the use potential of spinal decompression machine for individuals with osteoarthritis.
The proper treatment is the best sleeping tip that I can offer you. If the symptoms of arthritis are mitigated, sleeping would be a lot easier.
Wrapping it Up
Arthritis, despite its commonality, can still cause havoc on your day-to-day activity. It can hamper you from doing the things that you love. It can limit your movement and the type of activities that you can engage. My parents were on the same struggle in the past, but with proper treatment, they are now getting back to shape.
Just follow the sleep tips for arthritis that I have listed here. They are guaranteed to retain the normalcy of your evening rest. Sleep, after all, will always be a crucial factor in any healing process.
That's it for now. If you have other questions or suggestions, feel free to drop them in the comment section below.
My name is Layla Parker, the founder of ASleepyWolf.com. At this site, our team is going to bring you a lot of reliable and useful information about sleeping and everything related to it such as the therapies that improve your sleep, the ways of sleeping you should try, all the products you use every day that affects directly to your sleep, your health, and your life.