If You Have Chronic Back Pain That Wakes You Up In The Second Half Of The Night It Could Be A Type Of Inflammatory Arthritis Called Ankylosing Spondylitis
This video is part of a new campaign about ankylosing spondylitis awareness from the nonprofit patient community CreakyJoints. The videos in this campaign were produced with support from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.
If youre reading this article, chances are your back pain is bad so bad that its disrupting your ability to sleep well, which generally makes everything in life worse. Poor sleep can exacerbate pain symptoms, affect daytime fatigue, and contribute to a host of other health problems, from heart disease to weight gain to diabetes.
Its an important first step that youre taking your back pain at night seriously and looking for answers as to what is causing it.
Back pain at night could be due a number of different health concerns , but one that often goes overlooked is inflammatory back pain from conditions like ankylosing spondylitis or axial spondyloarthritis . These are types of arthritis that affect your spine and other parts of the body, causing inflammation, chronic pain, and, over time, joint damage that can cause the bones in your spine to fuse together.
In a study presented at the 2018 annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology, morning stiffness and pain that wakes people up from sleep were the two most common symptoms in people with back pain from inflammatory arthritis like AS.
Side Effects Of Moderna Booster
Side Effects of Moderna Booster: Over the past few months, health professionals have been discussing the need for revaccination. Side Effects of Moderna Booster: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently approved Pfizer revaccination for certain high-risk groups for serious covid.
This booster dose is only given to people who have received the first two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Moderna beneficiaries will have to wait for additional doses for a specific vaccine to be approved, he said, and the vaccine will arrive relatively soon.
But if you have a Moderna and youre waiting in line, you can keep preparing for whats next, thanks to a new CDC study documenting the potential side effects of Moderna boosters.
On September 28, the CDC published a report detailing the experiences of more than 22,000 safe resource volunteers who completed health questionnaires after receiving their third vaccination in August. September 12 and 19. The safe program allows people to report vaccine reactions via their smartphone, and over 10,400 people have documented their experiences after three doses of the Moderna vaccine.
Sleep Disturbances And Fatigue
Both of these conditions can cause sleep disturbances and fatigue. However, sleep problems in people with fibromyalgia tend to be more draining.
A preliminary 2013 study found that women with fibromyalgia reported greater daytime sleepiness and fatigue than women with RA. However, based on a multiple sleep latency test , women with fibromyalgia actually had less objective daytime sleepiness compared to women with RA.
Another 2015 study found that reduced sleep affected women with fibromyalgia more than women with RA. Women with fibromyalgia reported feeling more daytime sleepiness and needed a longer recovery time.
With RA, fatigue can also be a result of inflammation and anemia. Anemia, or the lack of red blood cells, affects of people with RA.
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Vacuuming Lower Back Pain Joint Pain Fatigue
When it pertains to strengthening the lower back, concentrating on your transverse abs which are wrapped around the midline of your body is just one of the very best methods to do it. These muscle mass are actually type in sustaining your back and lower back. While individuals often in the direction of problems for their transverse abdominal muscles, people can unintentionally toss out their lower back if their core isnt solid sufficient.
How to do it: In a standing setting, take a deep breath as well as draw your stubborn belly button in towards your back, contracting and involving your abdominal muscles as you do so. Visualize if someone was mosting likely to turn up and also punch you in the stomach and also you desire your gut to be hard as well as able to take it thats what it ought to seem like. Hold it, and launch slowly. Repeat a few even more times.
Are There Conditions That Put Me At Higher Risk For Musculoskeletal Pain
Some conditions can increase the risk of musculoskeletal pain, including:
- Arthritis: Arthritis causes chronic joint inflammation. Many people who have arthritis experience joint pain and stiffness.
- Fibromyalgia: Fibromyalgia is a chronic illness that causes all-over musculoskeletal pain and fatigue. Usually, people with fibromyalgia experience muscle, tendon or ligament pain.
- Tunnel syndromes: Some conditions cause nerve compression or pinched nerves. A few examples of these conditions include carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome and tarsal tunnel syndrome. Often, overuse injuries lead to these conditions.
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Sjogrens Syndrome As A Cause Of Joint Pain And Fatigue
Those diagnosed with Sjogrens Syndrome result in the immune cells attacking the glands that help in producing saliva and tears.
The disorder has an adverse effect on the kidneys, liver, lungs, pancreas and brain. It also results in arthritis and fatigue. Lymph nodes could swell and one may be at a higher risk of lymphoma. Sometimes, the disorder accompanies autoimmune diseases like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Other Sources Of Fatigue
Your fatigue is not always directly related to your arthritis disease activity, inflammation or pain. In fact according to a 2017 study published inCurrent Rheumatology Reports your fatigue level probably has more to do with other contributing factors, including obesity, physical inactivity, sleep disturbance and depression. Several of them may work together to cause your extreme tiredness, but identifying and treating even one of these factors can provide relief.
Managing Pain
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Research And New Developments
Were funding several studies to improve understanding of Sjögrens syndrome and develop new and more effective treatments for the condition.
In people with this condition, immune cells form structures called tertiary lymphoid organs . Were currently funding a study to understand why TLOs are present, and whether removing them could improve the condition.
We are also supporting research to uncover what causes lymphoma to develop in a small number of people living with the condition. This research may allow doctors to predict who will develop lymphoma, which means people can be treated early.
Were also funding the SALRISE study, to establish whether electrostimulation of the salivary glands using a small electronic device can be used to treat a dry mouth.
This research will improve understanding and could allow new treatments to be developed.
What Is The Composition Of The Lower Back
To recognize numerous causes of lower neck and back pain, it is very important to value the normal design of the tissues of this area of the body. Crucial structures of the lower back that can be connected to symptoms in this region consist of the bony lumbar back , discs in between the vertebrae, tendons around the back as well as discs, spine as well as nerves, muscle mass of the lower back, internal body organs of the pelvis and abdominal area, and also the skin covering the lumbar location. Lower Back Pain Joint Pain Fatigue
The bony lumbar spinal column is developed so that vertebrae stacked together can offer a movable support framework while also shielding the spinal cord from injury. The spine is made up of anxious cells that extends down the spinal column from the brain.
Each vertebra has a spinous procedure, a bony prominence behind the spine, which guards the cables worried cells from effect injury. Spinal column additionally have a strong bony body in front of the spinal cord to offer a platform ideal for weight bearing of all tissues over the butts. The back vertebrae pile quickly atop the sacrum bone that is situated in between the buttocks.On each side, the sacrum fulfills the iliac bone of the pelvis to develop the sacroiliac joints of the butts.
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The Pain Centre Versus Arthritis
In partnership with the University of Nottingham and local NHS Trusts, Versus Arthritis supports the worlds first national centre for research into pain.
The aims of the centre are to improve our understanding of pain and ways to stop it, through existing and new treatments.
The centre has experts in rheumatology, neuroimaging, psychology, neuropharmacology, neurosciences and orthopaedic surgery.
Why Might Covid Cause Back Pain
During viral infections, the body releases a ton of small proteins called cytokines to rev up the immune system in order to fight the pathogen. According to Jacob Hascalovici, a neurologist, interventional pain specialist and the chief medical officer and co-founder of chronic pain telehealth platform Clearing, one of the consequences of these pro-inflammatory cytokines is that they can greatly irritate muscles and joints.
Its not just the coronavirus that triggers this type of reaction. Back pain and muscle aches are commonly reported with other viral and bacterial infections, too like the flu, adenoviruses and rhinoviruses. Whang said this large immune response, which is part of the bodys natural response to viruses, can elicit a lot of musculoskeletal complaints.
With COVID, much of the aches and pain being reported involve the muscles and soft tissues around the joints its not causing structural issues or causing the discs to wear down quicker, according to Whang.
People with preexisting back issues are also experiencing flare-ups when infected with COVID. According to Patrick Doherty, a neurosurgeon and spine surgeon with Yale Medicine, the inflammatory reaction can be more problematic and aggravating in people with underlying health issues like chronic back pain, which is why the infection seems to exacerbate preexisting symptoms in areas of weakness.
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Back Pain At Night And Ankylosing Spondylitis
There are two main categories of back pain: mechanical and inflammatory. Mechanical back pain results from problems with the way the different components of your spine work together. Mechanical back pain, such as from overuse injuries, poor posture, or a herniated disc, is the reason for the vast, vast majority of back pain cases.
On the other hand, inflammatory back pain occurs because theres a problem with your immune system attacking the joints in your spine, sacroiliac joints , and the entheses .
Back pain that wakes you up in the second half of the night is one of a few key signs that your back pain could be inflammatory and due to a disease like ankylosing spondylitis.
Patients often experience stiffness and pain that awakens them in the early morning, a distinctive symptom not generally found in patients with mechanical back pain, reports Medscape.
Its not common to have back pain so bad in the middle of the night that you cant go back to sleep, says Fardina Malik, MD, a rheumatologist at NYU Langone in New York City who frequently treats patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
Mechanical back pain generally feels better when you rest or sleep. You might have discomfort, but you should be able to sleep through the night.
When To See A Doctor
If youre experiencing any of the symptoms associated with either RA or fibromyalgia, make an appointment with your doctor. Even though these conditions share similar symptoms, the treatment and outlook for each are very different.
Your doctor can help diagnose the condition and recommend the right treatment. Its also important to treat RA early because RA may lead to serious complications as it progresses.
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Treatments For Eye Symptoms
If your eyes are dry and sore, lubricating eye drops can be used to keep your eyes moist and reduce any friction. You can buy these yourself from chemists.
You might need to speak to your doctor or another healthcare professional and try a few different types of eye drops, before finding one that is right for you.
For very dry eyes, you may need to use ointment, gel or sprays as well as eye drops. Your doctor might give you eye drops containing ciclosporin or steroids if your eyes are inflamed.
Mucolytic eye drops can be given by your doctor if mucus has caused your eyes to become sticky. Paraffin-based ointments can be used at night to help stop your eyes being dry and crusty when you wake up in the morning.
If you need to use eye drops more than three times a day, its a good idea to use a brand that is preservative-free, as regularly using eye drops that contain preservatives can increase dryness and sensitivity. If you have corneal ulcers or infections, its important to speak to an eye specialist before using any products.
In some cases, an eye specialist may suggest punctal occlusion. This is where tiny plugs are inserted into the ducts at the inner corners of the eyelids. These are known as the puncta. This reduces the ducts ability to drain tears or eye drops from the surface of the eye.
Stretch Lower Back Pain Joint Pain Fatigue
Dont rest dropped in your desk chair throughout the day. Stand up every 20 mins or two and stretch the other means. Due to the fact that most of us spend a great deal of time flexing onward in our work, it is very important to stand and stretch in reverse throughout the day. Do not neglect to additionally stretch your legs. Some individuals find remedy for their back pain by doing a normal extending routine, like yoga. Lower Back Pain Joint Pain Fatigue
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Joint Pain And Fatigue: It Could Be Anything
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It had been more than two weeks and I could not seem to shake off the tiredness and joint pain I felt. Being a wife, mother of three children, and physician, I was always on the run. Taking care of patients and teaching residents and medical students at work, and then coming home to cook dinner and teach and take care of our children, was my routine. I had done this for many years without much hassle. The usual aches and pains or the fatigue after spending hours up at night delivering babies did not slow me down. I was like the Energizer Bunny. This time, however, I did not have enough energy for anything. I never called in sick, but I barely made it to work. When I came home, I crashed. My joints felt as if I had run a marathon or been through a long day of heavy physical labor. I could not even play the piano or paint. I took over-the-counter pain medication until my stomach hurt, with only temporary relief. The fatigue was not getting any better. I kept checking my pulse, listening to my own heart and lungs, and feeling my lymph nodes to see if I could find an explanation.
Treat Arthritis Pain And Other Symptoms
Chronic pain alone can cause fatigue. Pain also can lead to depression and mood changes that can worsen fatigue. To control fatigue, it’s important to have pain well-managed. Talk to your healthcare provider about drug and non-drug techniques for effective pain management.
Higher-than-normal levels of cytokineschemical messengers involved in inflammationhave been found in the blood of those suffering from fatigue.It’s important to control inflammation and monitor active inflammation.
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Does Omicron Cause More Back Pain Than Other Variants
This is still up in the air. During the early stages of the pandemic, patients frequently reported lung issues and loss of taste and smell. These symptoms arent as common with omicron. Doherty said he has treated more patients with back aches during the omicron wave.
With omicron, we are definitely seeing more complaints of back pain, even after theyve recovered, and were not exactly sure why. But inflammation and the immune response is likely the cause, Doherty said.
Its unclear if theres something different about omicron that specifically causes back pain or if were hearing more about this symptom since so many more people are getting infected now, Hascalovici added. Some doctors suspect omicron may uniquely attack the musculoskeletal system, however, we need more research to determine if thats whats going on.
Disease Activity And Fatigue
Fatigue and arthritis go hand in hand for many people with arthritis. The main culprits are the inflammatory disease process and the accompanying chronic pain.
- Inflammation. If you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system attacks your body and inflammation is the result. The body undergoes stress as it tries to cope with the release of inflammatory cytokines in the blood. That can cause fatigue, especially when disease activity is high or low-grade inflammation remains for a long time.
- Chronic Pain. The pain-fatigue connection can be a vicious circle. Dealing with arthritis pain for months at a time over many years can wear you down. It can affect your sleep habits, which adds to your exhaustion. Being fatigued, in turn, can worsen pain and make it more difficult to manage.
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Causes Of Chronic Lower Pain In The Back
Pain is taken into consideration chronic when it lasts for more than three months and exceeds the bodys all-natural healing process. Persistent pain in the low back usually involves a disc trouble, a joint trouble, and/or an aggravated nerve root. Typical causes include:
Back herniated disc. The jelly-like facility of a back disc can break through the tough outer layer and irritate a nearby nerve origin. The herniated part of the disc has plenty of proteins that create inflammation when they reach a nerve root, as well as swelling, in addition to nerve compression, create nerve origin pain. The disc wall is also richly supplied by nerve fibers, as well as a tear via the wall can trigger severe pain.
Degenerative disc disease. At birth, intervertebral discs contain water as well as at their healthiest. As people age over time, discs shed hydration and also wear down. As the disc sheds hydration, it can not resist forces as well, as well as transfers pressure to the disc wall that may create splits and also cause pain or weakening that can cause a herniation. The disc can likewise collapse and also add to constriction. Lower Back Pain Joint Pain Fatigue
