World Arthritis Day 2022: Why joint pain increases at night? Read what the expert has to say

By Team Newsable | First Published Oct 12, 2022, 12:06 PM IST

We spoke to By Dr. Kiran Kumar Mannava, Consultant - Orthopedics, who gave us some detailed information about why joint pain from arthritis increases at night. Read on

On the occasion of World Arthritis (Day I) would like to clarify a common question that most of us orthopaedics encounter from a patient suﬀering from arthritis: why does my joint pain worsen at night?

As such, there is no clear-cut explanation to pinpoint it to one particular factor. But Theoretically, the body's circadian rhythm plays a role by releasing less cortisol at night, which is anti-inﬂammatory. Due to the release of pro-inﬂammatory cytokines, an increased number of cells travel to inﬂamed tissue thereby increasing inﬂammation-related pain.

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The human body releases higher levels of melatonin and prolactin at night, which increase inﬂammatory cytokines.

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A more non-scientific and general explanation is activity during the day contributes to the pain felt in the knees at night and we are not as distracted by everything else at night and hence we tend to notice the discomfort and pain more. Arthritis pain at night is typical. But having arthritis does not need a person to endure constant sleep loss. A person may have improved and longer-lasting sleep with the appropriate dosage of drugs, good sleep hygiene habits, and lifestyle changes.

People with arthritis should be aware that, in addition to the negative effects of pain on sleep, poor sleep can also exacerbate pain and elevate stress levels. This can lead to a vicious cycle that may be difficult to escape on your own with arthritis medication.

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Treating both sleeplessness and arthritis is the most excellent way to get full relief. A patient and their doctor might develop a treatment strategy that takes care of the two illnesses.

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