Why Is Arthritis Pain Worse At Night?

 

Do you have arthritis? Have you noticed that your pain gets worse at night? You’re not alone. Many arthritis patients have reported that their pain gets worse at night. According to a study conducted in 2020, google searches for pain management saw the most traffic between 11:00 p.m. and 4:00 a.m.

Doctors have yet to fully understand why arthritis pain gets worse at night. Researchers have proposed possible causes such as changes in the levels of cytokines and hormones. These are both cell-signaling proteins of the body. It may also be as a result of daytime arthritis medication, which some people take during the morning, wearing off by the evening.

Researchers have also said that it may be due to the levels of the anti-inflammatory hormone cortisol getting naturally lower at night. Also, staying still for too long while sleeping might cause stiffness of the joints. Less distractions in the evening can also make you focus more on your joint pain, making your symptoms seem worse than they are.

This doesn’t mean that there’s nothing you can do to make it better. In fact, the following are a few effective tips for you to stop your arthritis pain from getting worse at night.

1.     It’s important to have good sleeping habits

The most important step towards better health, with or without arthritis, is to get a good night’s sleep. For this you need to go to bed each night at the same time and also wake up in the morning at the same time. Stay away from electronics or any screen time before going to bed. Do not snack or do any other activities unrelated to sleep before you go to bed. Sleep in a dark room and at a comfortable temperature for you.

2.     Sleep in a bed that is comfortable for you

You can consult your doctor or physical therapist and ask them which is the right kind of bed for you. Generally, it is better to avoid a mattress that is too-firm. It is very important to sleep on a soft mattress. Determine just how heavy you want your blankets to be. Some people may sleep better with weighted blankets while others may prefer a lighter one. Heavy blankets might give you some relief from pain. You can also cushion your sore joints with pillows.

3.     Hug your pillows

After choosing the right mattress you need to know how to use your pillows. If you have hip or knee pain due to arthritis and you prefer sleeping on your side, you may find that putting a pillow between your knees brings you relief. People with  shoulder arthritis would be most comfortable using a wedge pillow and sleeping on their back.

4.     Do not eat after 9 PM

Eating at night may directly be the cause of your poor sleep. It may also cause other problems such as gastrointestinal reflux, which can worsen your sleep quality even more. Try to finish your last meal 2-3 hours before bedtime to give your body enough time to digest what you eat.

5.     Meditate regularly

There are two potential benefits to meditating regularly: better sleep and relief from chronic pain. There are many ways through which you can meditate. You can either sit or lie down. You can just sit in silence, repeat a mantra like ‘Om’, or try guided meditation, in which a professional guides you through the process. There are many phone apps and online videos that offer recorded guided meditation.

6.     Massage

Before you go to bed, do a nice, relaxing self-massage. You can also ask someone to massage you if you want. Use a pain relieving oil for better results. The best ayurvedic pain relieving oil for joint pain is Sandhi Sudha. The oil has been made after years of research and is packed with potent pain relieving herbs. The analgesic properties of the herbs gives a soothing sensation in the muscles surrounding the joints almost as soon as it is administered.

So, come on! It’s time to say goodbye to joint pain with Sandhi Sudha!

For more information, please visit https://www.sandhisudha.com/

How to Treat Shoulder Pain at Home

Did you know that the shoulder joint is the most complex joint in the body? It allows you to move your arm 360 degrees. It also gives you the stability that ensures the proper functioning of all the bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments that make up the shoulder.

As useful as this joint may be, it is also quite delicate. This is why many people experience pain or loss of mobility due to injury. If you experience shoulder pain, try these tips to help relieve your pain:

Shoulder Pain Remedies at Home

1.     Stretches

If you’re experiencing shoulder pain, take a few days off your aggressive workout, and instead do light stretches for your neck and shoulder. These gentle exercises will help in easing the symptoms more quickly.

To relieve shoulder pain, roll your shoulders back and forth before squeezing your shoulder blades together. To relieve neck pain, move your ear slowly from one shoulder to the other. After this turn your head from side to side.

While performing stretches for neck and shoulder pain, be careful of your movements. Do not perform any jerky, sudden motions that aggravates your pain. Be careful while doing these exercises.

2.     Massages

If you have stiff and sore muscles, a gentle massage can help loosen them and ease the pressure. Either massage the area yourself, ask a family member for help, or get a professional massage therapist. Other than massages, you may relieve your pain by applying ice followed by heat onto your neck or shoulder. During the initial days of your injury, bring down the inflammation by applying an ice pack to the affected area. In the following days, use a hot compress to apply heat. Alternate between the cold and hot treatments several times a day.

For massage, make sure that you use a good quality oil. We recommend Sandhi Sudha ayurvedic massage oil. Sandhi Sudha is a very popular massage oil in India that is known for its effective treatment of joint and muscle pain. It is packed full of potent pain relieving herbs that penetrate deep into the muscles and reduces inflammation while providing a soothing sensation in the area.

3.     Good posture

A better sitting posture is the best way to prevent neck and shoulder pain. Poor posture puts unnecessary pressure on your neck and shoulders, which can lead to chronic pain. And it’s not just sitting, even if you’re walking, or standing, make sure that you are in the correct posture. Keep your head, neck, and spine in proper alignment to prevent and reduce pain.

4.     Ergonomic workspaces

One of the most common causes for neck and shoulder pain is working in an uncomfortable office space. Sitting at a badly optimized computer desk for 8 hours a day will definitely lead to aches and pains. Make an ergonomic workspace to relieve your pain as well as to prevent it from lasting too long.

To make an ergonomic workspace, make sure that your chair is in a comfortable position. In an ideal world, your feet will lie flat on the floor. Also, your monitor screen should be at eye level, so that you can avoid craning your neck.

Also, as mentioned above, the best way to relieve shoulder and neck pain is by massaging it with Sandhi Sudha Oil.

To know more, please visit https://www.sandhisudha.com/

5 Mistakes That May Be Causing Your Joint Pain

If the world was perfect, there wouldn't be any such thing as pain. Our weight would be optimal and we’d happily do our daily exercises and still feel energetic. But it’s not a perfect world, and sometimes our bad habits make a mockery of our purest intentions to live a healthy life. One of the consequences of these bad habits is joint pain. So, don’t you want to know which bad habits are causing your joint pain?

1.     Thumb Texting

 Texting puts a stress on the joints in your hands, particularly your thumbs. When you text with your thumbs, it puts them in awkward and often hyperextended positions. This causes irritation to the tendons. Thumb texting puts a significant amount of unnecessary pressure on your thumb joints coming from the tips of your thumbs. According to experts, your thumbs take on around 60 % of the functioning of your hands. So, make sure that you keep your thumbs in good working order!

So avoid thumb texting and instead use the voice function to keep your hands free. Texting can have a bad effect on your shoulders and neck, as well. Texting requires you to hunch over to look at your phone. This stresses both your neck and shoulders. Also keeping your neck bent all the way forward so your chin touches your chest puts an unusual amount of strain on your neck.

2.     Sleeping On Your Stomach

It may be recommended to sleep on your back if you want to snore less but it does make the rest of your body suffer. Stomach sleepers have to twist their necks and heads to the side. This puts strain on the nerves while also compressing your spine. This causes an awkward spinal alignment. The best method is to sleep in a neutral position keeping your head and neck in a straight line with your spine. This will reduce the risk of strain on your neck, back, and muscles.

So instead of sleeping on your stomach, sleep on your side or back. There are even some special pillows you can buy that promote healthy spine alignment.

3.     Wearing Uncomfortable Shoes

 Wearing ill-fitting, old, or uncomfortable shoes really paves the road for developing osteoarthritis, foot pain, joint pain, and other joint problems. Uncomfortable shoes means any footwear that does not support your feet or ankles correctly. This includes shoes that put your feet in weird or uncomfortable positions.

High heels, slippers, and sandals are all poor choices of footwear. If you play sports, make sure that you wear the right type of shoes for your sport. For example, tennis shoes have good side support which reduces the risk of ankle rolling. But, on the other hand, too much cushioning or arch support can put your feet in an awkward position leading to joint pain.

4.     Knuckle Cracking

 Some people have a habit of regularly cracking their knuckles. The sound that we hear is either due to the ligaments snapping against the bone or from fluid bubbles that burst in the knuckles. While you shouldn’t believe that cracking your knuckles can cause arthritis, it is still a bad habit that needs to be stopped as quickly as possible. According to the results of one study, knuckle cracking can cause hand swelling and may even make your grip weaker. To break a bad habit, replace it with a better, healthier habit. So why don’t you squeeze a stress ball? This will increase the strength of the muscles in your hands and help you develop better grip strength.

5.     Carrying Heavy Bags

 If you carry a heavy load on your back, whether it’s a backpack, purse, or something else, it puts a lot of pressure and strain on your neck, shoulders, and back. A heavy load affects your balance and even your gait. It is even worse for you if you tend to carry your backpack or bag on only one side. This will stress the muscles and joints on one side of the body. This leads to even more wear and tear. The ultimate result is a cocktail of  muscle pain, joint pain, and other symptoms. So, come on! Keep your load light! Do not carry around unnecessary things. Take only what you need. Use both shoulders to carry your backpack. This will distribute the weight more evenly. If you are carrying a purse, switch sides every few hours.

If you want to relieve your joint or muscle pain, we recommend Sandhi Sudha. Sandhi Sudha is an ayurvedic joint pain relieving oil that can combat any type of pain. It contains potent analgesic herbs that tackles the root cause of your pain. Massage with Sandhi Sudha on the affected joint twice a day. This will provide a gentle warmth to the area. After a few weeks of regular use, the pain will go away completely.

For more information, please visit https://www.sandhisudha.com/