Do you have Morning Joint Pains or Muscle stiffness that cures itself by evening?

Do you wake up in the morning feeling like you are just unable to get out of bed? 

Do you have joint aches and muscle stiffness all over the body?
Do you have joint aches or muscle stiffness only in the morning. It improves on its own as the day progresses? 

If you can answer yes to any of these questions then you may be suffering from a very common symptom of fibromyalgia – morning stiffness. 

As many as 90% of fibromyalgia sufferers complain that they are victims of morning stiffness. 

What is Morning Stiffness?
it’s stiffness that you feel when you first wake up in the morning. 

Most sufferers describe morning stiffness as a tightness in the muscles and joints throughout the body. This muscle joint stiffness usually lasts for at least 30 minutes, though it can last for hours. It also doesn’t exclusively occur in the morning – it can continue well into the afternoon and evening. 

This stiffness can cause aches and pains throughout the body.

This morning stiffness can have a huge impact on a person’s daily activities, making it difficult to sit, stand, or rest for extended periods of time.

Symptoms of Morning Stiffness

There are numerous symptoms that often occur with morning stiffness. one or more of the following is present:

• tightness in the muscles after you wake up in the morning
• stiffness in hands, fingers, feet, toes
• gelling, or tightness in the muscles after periods of rest (ie. long car rides, sitting at the office, afternoon naps)
• aching or throbbing pain, especially in the hands, arms, legs, and feet
• inability to fully extend certain joints, limited range of motion
• headaches particularly beginning at the base of the neck and extending over the head
• stiffness in the head, back, and neck
• insomnia
• stiffness reoccurring at night

What Causes Morning Stiffness in Fibromyalgia? 

1. over-exercising of certain muscle groups

2. lack of exercise or activity

3. mental restlessness, stress or anxiety.

4. clinical levels of depression

5. collection of fluid in the joints

6. sleep disorders like sleep apnea or apnea

7. Physical or emotional trauma

8. Abnormal pain response. Areas in the brain that are responsible for pain may react differently due to one or more neuro-psychiatric conditions.

9. An infectious microbe, such as a virus.

How does Morning Stiffness Impact daily life?
Morning stiffness takes a toll on you by decreasing the productivity and quality of life.

1. Muscle stiffness and joint stiffness can make it difficult to go to work, drive a car, or even get out of bed in the morning. 

2. increase irritation, anger

3. appetite disturbances

4. poor performance at work.

Treatment? 

1. Patients may start with physical therapy, exercise, and methods for reducing stress.

2. If these methods fail to improve symptoms, an antidepressant or muscle relaxant may be added to the treatment.

3. Patient education programs called cognitive-behavioral therapy, which help with coping skills, are an important part of the treatment plan.

thanks for reading,

Dr.Hemant Mittal (MBBS, PGDPM)

Mind-Body and Sexual Health Consultant Mind Mantra

www.mindmantra.in

free email consultation - eksoch@gmail.com