not moving during sleep

hello bob here. i am getting good solid 6 to 7 hours sleep a night using a cpap device.my huge problem is i am only 52, but suffer from servere osteio arithtisi both legs and arms folling a bike accident 30 years ago. as much as i try yo sleep on my side i can not due to arithic hips alo. i do not move as i sleep so sound and good.hence laying on my back so long all my joints goes extremly stiff during my sleep. my doctors say this is what i have to come over my self .every day is a painful nightmare getting my legs and arms moving.i do special exercises every morning to help loosen everything up, but it is getting worse than better.i walk as much as possible,but lost my job 6 years ago due to arithitis.if any one can offer some advice i am 100% grateful.i have just aquired the special bed and mattress i need for my conidition so all is fine there. kind regards, bob.

It does get better after a while. The new mattress should help. I was the same way when I first got my cpap machine. It is like your body is sucking up sleep for the first few month.

If you are sleeping on your back, try to put a pillow under your knees so they are bent a bit. That takes some stress off your joints and lower back.

People have reported less arthritis pain after the therapy really kicks in so keep trying.

Bob,
Just a quick response. People with arthritis usually have problems sleeping because of pain. They wake up and have to move. So...that you can sleep through the night is a good thing.

I think you need to deal with your arthritis pain with your Ortho doctor. Perhaps you need better medication. Perhaps it's time to have surgery to replace painful and deteriorated joints. But as I see it, they are unrelated issues. Rolling over a few times during the night is not going to improve your arthritis condition.
Jamis

I have had severe Rheumatoid Arthritis since I was 51 (23 years ago) and bad Osteoarthritis that set in a few years after that.

I have slept on my back for years because it is the only pain free position for me. Otherwise my shoulders and hips act up and I don't sleep well at all. I do not move during the night at all either. I am 74 now and find I have to get up once in the night to go to the bathroom. This helps loosen me a little as well so that mornings are not as bad as they would be if I slept straight through the night.

I still have a lot of stiffness in the morning as well (last 20 to 30 minutes) and also do a series of stretching and range of motion exercises when I first get up. I also do those same exercises about an hour before I go to bed. Doing them in the evening has helped with the morning stiffness as long as I do the morning routine as well. Perhaps doing your exercises in the evening and then in the morning too might help.

I don't know what special bed you are using. I sleep in an ordinary bed. What is that special bed? I would be interesting in knowing about it.

I assume you are taking some medication for your arthritis that helps with pain and stiffness. I take a Non Steroidal Anti inflammatory drug twice a day and pain meds once a day. I also take a stomach protector since Non Steroidal Anti inflammatory meds are very hard on the stomach. I do take other drugs for the Rheumatoid Arthritis but if you don't have that type of arthritis they would not help you.

I hope you find some relief. Maybe after getting a lot of nights of good sleep in and trying the exercises I the evening as well as the morning , your arthritis pain may ease some.

Hi Bob, Bob here. I've suffered with pain in my joints and have several bone spurs down my spine from a previous injury when I was in high school. My doctor and I had tried several different medications but one called Meloxicam (Generic for Mobic Tab, 15mg) has really helped me. I take one tablet every morning. Whats nice about it is it wont zonk you out, only thing I notice is the lack of pain when I move!

Meloxicam is a Non Steroidal Anti inflammatory medication. It is for the pain and stiffness of arthritis.

There are many Non Steroidal Anti inflammatory medications available. It is trial and error to find the one that works for you. Also, if you have been on the same one for a long time (many years) it may not work for you any more and you will need your doctor's help to find another that does.

Hello Bob,

During my sleep study, the physician was fairly confused as I didn't move once on either night that I was tested. The reasoning is the same as you. I definitely have osteoarthritis in many areas of my body and my rheumatologist is certain I have an autoimmune disease as well. I, personally, cannot take NSAID's as I am taking steroids (and some other anti-rheumatic medications).

I simply do not move either while sleeping due to the pain it causes. Sometimes, I sleep with a pillow under my knees and sometimes under my heels as they get painful at times staying in one position.

Another step I have taken is that I bought a four inch memory foam mattress topper for my bed. It makes lying down much more comfortable.

If after utilizing all of the suggestions given on this thread and you still cannot sleep because of your arthritic pain, may I suggest that you seek out a Rheumatologist to help with your arthritis or perhaps a pain management clinic referral might be in order.

I wish you the best of luck. I feel for you.

TheWino