How do you get a good nights sleep with arthritis?

[HappySonHappyMum]

My DH has psoratic and osteo arthritis and his sleep is appalling. He wakes up in the night when he turns over as is hurts, he cries out in pain (doesn't know he's doing it) and wakes me. He often wakes in agony and it takes him at least half an hour to stretch and get out of bed in the morning. I would literally do anything to help him, if he could get a good nights sleep it would help his mood and make the day time easier for him. What do you do to get a good nights sleep when you're in so much pain?

Does heat help him? Would an electric blanket/heat pad help?
Also has he spoken to his GP about disturbed sleep as some medications can have a slower release and last longer through the night.

I really don't know.
My dad and brother hardly seem to sleep at all and are always getting up and going downstairs to try to walk off some pain or other. Must be horrendous.

Co coda ok as I go to sleep
Electric blanket
Sometimes weighted blanket
A lot of supportive cushions - the best one was like a really long v cushion
I get up most nights for a cuppa at 3 ish for an hour or two, then back to bed

It’s shit

We do have an electric blanket which does help a little. He is on methotrexate but we haven't seen his rheumatologist for over two years now because all of the appointments at his hospital have been cancelled because of Covid. His symptons have worsened considerably - he needs a knee replacement, a bi lateral osteotomy as well as an ACL repair - he's 46 . He takes ibuprofen and cocodamol - but tries to limit the painkillers as he worries about the affects of taking pain killers continually but I could cry watching him struggle sometimes and would literally do anything to take the pain away.

Can he not speak to his GP? It doesn't have to be a consultant. DH takes amitriptyline at night to help him sleep.

I have psoriatic arthritis and found that a tempur mattress helped my joints at night.

I have arthritis in my knee and find swimming and walking in the pool really helps. I go 4-5 times a week and in a reasonably warm pool. Lots of stretching and exercises. Building up muscle slowly to support it.

@santasmuma Our GP surgery has been put in special measures because it's failing - it's not easy to get to speak to anyone who will actually help

Codiene on a really bad night, but I over heat in the bedroom would love heated blanket but I think I’d cook.

Doctor put me on amitriptyline. Helps with daytime pain and works as a sedative, just had a hip replacement so weaning myself off them now

I really feel for him. I have inflammatory arthritis so I do understand. For me, I used my maternity pillows and a pillow impregnated with cbd oil (not sure if it was a placebo effect but made a difference). I take my co-codamol as I figure that since I’m having the regular blood monitoring tests they’d see any problems and both my rheumatologist and gp agree I need it along with some decent sleep. I don’t use ibuprofen though as it affects my tummy really badly. I sleep with an ice pack on my foot lol. I find with my pains I need something soft to sink into, so my limbs are supported but not in a rigid position if that makes sense. My appointments have also been cancelled because of covid, it’s a worry I know. I’m 45 so not far behind him!

I have osteoarthritis and am hyper mobile.
I've also recently been diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I sleep using a ripple-style mattress and a knee pillow. They help me to sleep without pain. I am also taking amytriptyline, which has been really useful in getting rid of the other random pain I have had.
If your DH has had any kind of referral, he needs to be asking them how they can help.

I wake up and whimper and cry in my sleep when I move (according to DH).

Having a hip replacement helped massively as its one less joint that hurts now. Hot water bottle on worst knee and Boots Sleepeeze tablets. If its so bad I'm crying at 2am, then the full strength Co-codamol comes out.

I have codeine in the evening and amytriptiline an hour before bed.
My pain is due to Long Covid and Fibromyalgia but these things do help.

@HappySonHappyMum he really should take his pain relieving meds if he needs them. There are no prizes for being a hero about this - lacking sleep will do him as much (maybe more?) damage as the body needs sleep to heal and remain mentally and physically healthy.

CBD oil seems to help some people. I have psoriatic arthritis too. Mine flares and then gets less bad. A short course of steroids would give him respite. I emailed and called my consultant’s pa directly when I got really really bad and he phoned through a prescription for prednisone which got me through the next month when i felt like I was going to break.

@SmallGreenStripes I think he worries that the pain killers will become less effective if he continues to take them - so he tries not to take too many. He has had steroid injections in the past but the hospital is reluctant to do that now as his joints have deteriorated so much. He has taken the prednislone before - and it does give some relief but the pain he feels when he comes off it seems worse than before he starts it which makes him reluctant. I notice a few of you take amytriptiline - does it make you drowsy? He uses machinery so needs to be alert during the day.

I notice a few of you take amytriptiline - does it make you drowsy? He uses machinery so needs to be alert during the day.

Yes, most people will be taking it at night to help them sleep.

I should add that my rheumatologist also gave me amitriptyline to take at night. It works.

If he hasn't had a rheumatology reviewgor two years he really should. Can he ring the secretary and ask?
Also isn't there a CNS helpline?
Oral steroids long term would give him relief.
I agree with others that avoiding pain relief is simply pointless. Much as I hate codiene it knocks me out for a few hours.

Thought I'd update. My DH finally got an appointment at the docs this morning and asked the doc about the amytriptiline some of you suggested. The doc has prescribed this and some melatonin as well. He suggested contacting PALS at the local hospital to get appointments as his requests for appointments are being ignored. Fingers crossed that starts to help at night at least.

We had a tens machine arrive today to see if that will help at night. My DH has been told the methotrexate is working but feels no difference. He takes a high dose of codeine and naproxen every night but can take him hours to get to sleep. It affects everything. I’ll report back about the tens machine.