My Rheumy is always asking about morning stiffness and I realize that is a criteria for the dx of RA but I have stiffness even after sitting for short periods of time or if I have been typing, my fingers get stiff. For me it isn't always in the morning. In fact, I seem better in the morning. I get my worst stiffness after I have been active and then I sit down. I also notice stiffness in the middle of the night when I get up to go to the restroom but in the morning, I may be stiff but it resides quickly.
I'm wondering if anyone else also gets stiff at other times of the day. Have a good day!
The fact that yours resides quickly is good.
Stiffness can happen at anytime of the day. Alot of times the dr is asking about morning stiffness because they want to see how stiff you are when you get up in the morning. You still need to tell them about the other stiffness you get from typing, sitting for awhile, if it is waking you etc. For me I work 3rds so alot of times I only get a couple hours of sleep and my stiffness in the middles of the night happens on my nights off. If I come home from work and proceed to sit down for awhile i can barely get up out of the chair. The dr is looking to see as to how long it takes for the stiffnes to go away. meme Believe it or not...I've heard a term for the stiffness you get after sitting or otherwise being at rest. It's called gelling. And I also have less morning stiffness than stiffness on sitting. The only time I had major morning stiffness in the last 4 or 5 years is when I took meds to help me sleep. I slept soundly enough that I didn't move where when I didn't take sleep meds, I tossed and turned so I wasn'tstiff.Thanks for all the info. I sometimes forget that sometimes my stiffness isn't so bad anymore because of the meds. In fact, sometimes I hardly have any and I always think I can stop the meds. Unfortunately, it always comes back. I keep hoping it will just disappear. My doctor won't let me off the meds because he says I will turn into a statue which is kind of funny because I use to wonder if I was going to solidify into one solid mass.
I'm supposed to be contemplating a change of meds to something like Humira, Enbrel or Remicade. I ruled out Humira because of the fear of weight gain but now I hear that Enbrel is a very painful injection. I see the doc on the 17th so I guess we'll see where we go from here.
Cristene;
We've all had that "I'm better, I don't need the meds any more" reaction. I did it after about 5 years against my doctors advice. Taught me a lesson that's for sure. I think that's when I finally admitted to myself that this is something that will go away. I'll have to manage it for the rest of my life, and I do mean manage. If I don't stay on proper treatment...I'll do exactly like you said "Turn into a statue" it's sad, but true.
I've never really heard it said that weight gain was a side effect of Humira. I've actually lost a little weight since being on it since December. We're all different though.
Good luck with what ever you try.
Cristene,
Enbrel in the 25mg dose doesn't hurt at all. You take it 2x a week. The one that hurts is the 50mg dose that you take 1x week. Check some of the Enbrel posts and you can read how some people have been dealing with the 50mg dose. Good luck with whatever you try.
Barb
This was an interesting question, as I have wondered this myself. I also experience my worst stiffness during the day after sitting even for a short time. I am stiff in the morning when I get up, but that is nothing to what happens when I sit down and try to get up, and then try to walk. This goes on all day and nite. It's always so refreshing to know it's not just you. Like with the "snap, crackles, and pops" , hair loss and many other issues that I have found in common with my friends here. Thanks, that was a good one
Pam I have discovered that my worst stiffness happens when I get in from work and sit down. I only have to be sat down for twenty minutes before I have difficulty getting back up again. This obviously means I should keep moving, but to be honest I am knackered when I get in from work and have to rest.......can't win either way. Ah well, c'est la vie!
Niki Cristene, I am stiff for quite awhile in the mornings, but like the others, also suffer from stiffness at other times during the day depending on my activity level. After work I get in my car to drive home, and by the time I get home, I can't straighten up when I get out of my car... and I only live about a mile from work. Cris Add me to the list! After I sit, I feel this Awww relief in my feet but man when I stand the pain is so much worse, makes it almost not worth sitting and resting. Jen I agree with Wayney, it is just that we are getting old. And everytime you don't use the muscles they get stiff.
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