On Monday I have an appointment with my RD, and I know she is going to ask me about morning stiffness. I think, for me, describing my symptoms, represents a big big challenge. I have stiffness in my upper back and shoulders - it's pretty annoying, but mild and doesn't interfere with getting up. I can easily walk around and get breakfast going. I sometimes feel a slight tightness in my calf muscles.
Does this stiffness in my shoulders count as typical RA morning stiffness? What is your stiffness like in the morning?
Allie
Mine is usally in my feet or hands. I had neck surgery a year ago and I have a lot of pain. I asked RD about it and he said RA can hurt in the muscles as well. So...maybe it is related.
Mine is much more spread out, meaning all over my body. A really hot shower helps.
Tell her just like you wrote it here. In fact, I find it best if I keep a note book at my desk at work and every time I think of a question or symptom, I write it down and take the note book with me and we go over it all together. Helps when the brain fog sets in thick as pea soup!
I agree with Micheleb--just tell your rheumy exactly what you wrote here. All of us are different, and RA affects us differently.
For me, my morning stiffness was pretty bad before I got on Enbrel/MTX. It
was in my hands, feet, and legs. I would have to do some stretching
for about five to ten minutes before I could get out of bed. I would
then stumble into the shower which really helped.
dordale
I'll cut and paste my post into a journal file. I'm still in the process of being diagnosed, so I feel a lot of pressure to answer really precisely. Thanks everyone!
My morning stiffness makes it difficult to know if I put my feet to the ground upon arising whether or not I will be able to stand. My legs are quite stiff and all of it hurts from my feet up to my shoulders. Sometimes I think it would be better to not rise at all. But experience teaches me that movement will help chase this horrid stiffness away.
By the time I get to a doctor's appointment, the stiffness has faded away from memory and I am apt to say, "Stiffness, oh, yeah, I guess I do have that."
And tomorrow it repeats itself. But this is my normal. In years past, my stiffness was not nearly as noticeable.
I too would suggest you write everything down because i find that i forget how bad it really gets and play it down to my doctor.
My morning stiffness is in my feet, lower legs, elbows, fingers and wrists.Sometimes my jaws as well.
My morning stiffness is all over but it is not unusual to have it in one place.