Arthritis is a common cause of joint pain and can affect any joint in the body, including the knees, hips, and hands. This condition may cause them to become inflamed and stiff, leading to worse pain in the early morning or at night. Women are more likely to experience joint pain than men.

Is Joint Pain an Autoimmune Disorder? 

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a form of arthritis that is associated with an autoimmune disorder and inflammation. Autoimmune diseases can affect any age starting from children to the elderly. In one form, it can present with single or multiple joint pain with or without swelling. It can involve the hand, wrist, foot, knee, Hip, or shoulder joints. These pain are usually worst at night or early morning, mostly during winter, once you get up and/or go to bed. In another form, it can present with skin rash or other internal organ involvement like eyes, lungs, or kidneys where the primary physician will refer rheumatologists to rule out autoimmunity.  

Cause of Joint Pain in the Morning or Night:

It is common for people with arthritis to experience increased joint pain and stiffness at night or in the early morning. This is often referred to as "morning stiffness." There are several proposed reasons why this occur, such as:

• Inactivity: When you are inactive for an extended period of time, such as when you are sleeping, your joints may become stiff and painful when you try to move them.

• Decreased blood flow: Blood flow to your joints may be reduced during sleep, leading to increased stiffness and pain when you wake up.

• Hormonal changes: Your body's levels of certain hormones, such as cortisol, can fluctuate during the night, which can affect inflammation and pain levels in your joints.

• Changes in body temperature: Your body's temperature can drop slightly during the night, which can cause your joints to feel stiffer and more painful.

How Can You Manage Joint Pain?

If you are experiencing increased joint pain and stiffness at night or in the morning, it may be helpful to try some simple self-care strategies or report the symptoms to a rheumatologist for further evaluation and treatment if the pain doesn’t go away.  

Here are a few ways to manage joint pain or arthritis:

• Pain medication: Over-the-counter pain medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) can be helpful for managing joint pain.

• Hot and cold therapy: Applying heat or cold to the affected joint can help reduce pain and swelling. Heat therapy can be done with a heating pad or hot water bottle, while cold therapy can be done with an ice pack or cold pack.

• Exercise: Regular exercises such as swimming, walking, and cycling can help reduce joint pain and stiffness. Consult with a healthcare provider or physical therapist to determine the best exercises for your specific condition.  

• Physical therapy: Physical therapy can help improve flexibility and strength, and teach you ways to protect your joints.

• Assistive devices: Using devices such as a cane, walker, or brace can help reduce the strain on your joints and make it easier to move around.

• Weight loss: Losing weight can help reduce the strain on weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hip

• Surgery: In some cases of advanced arthritis, surgery may be necessary to repair or replace a damaged joint.

Staying active during the day can help to reduce the pain and stiffness felt at night and in the morning. Do not neglect even when you have mild joint pains, as studies have shown that autoimmune disease can damage joints as early as 3 months after the illness. Hence, treating at early stages has a very good outcome, and crippling of joints can also be avoided.  

Get treated early and live life happily after. Please book an appointment with a Consultant – Rheumatology to discover treatment options as per your condition.