Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder that affects the small joints in the hands and feet. If you suffer from RA, the pain and discomfort you feel is a result of your immune system mistakenly attacking your bone tissue. These attacks cause swelling, pain and inflammation. Many patients experience pain from rheumatoid arthritis at night at the conclusion of a day's activities, when your body is preparing to rest and movement is minimal. There is no cure for rheumatoid arthritis, and symptoms come and go over time. However, there are steps you can take to manage the pain of rheumatoid arthritis at night.
Step 1
Do hand exercises. Hand exercises help to maintain the flexibility of the hands and joints, preventing stiffness. Hand exercises can be done any time during the day, as often as you like. Try this simple exercise. Start by holding your hand, fingers together, straight up in line with your wrist and forearm. Slowly bend your fingers at the end or middle joints. Return your fingers to the starting position and repeat. Aim for 4 to 5 repetitions per hand. If you experience pain at any point, discontinue the exercise.
Step 2
Apply an over-the-counter pain relieving cream such as Icy Hot or Aspercreme. There are generally two types of creams. Creams similar to Icy Hot contain menthol or eucalyptus oil as the active ingredient. Creams similar to Aspercreme contain salicylates and act similarly to aspirin. If you are allergic to aspirin, consult your physician before using these creams.
Step 3
Take an over-the-counter NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug) such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If pain symptoms continue for more than 2 days, contact your physician.
Step 4
Exercise regularly to strengthen muscles and joints, but avoid overuse and high impact exercise (i.e. running or jogging). Exercises such as Tai Chi have proven to be effective in the improvement of symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis due to the fluidity of the sequential poses.
Step 5
Avoiding repetitive activities or remaining in the same position too long. In many cases, work-related activities (i.e. manual labor or typing) can cause stiffness, pain or discomfort. Try to take intermediate breaks or adjust your position periodically. If you feel comfortable, discuss your condition with your employer; they may have an accommodations program that you can utilize to avoid further injury on the job.
Step 6
Implement therapy into your treatment by having massages or performing heat or cold therapies at home. If you visit a spa to have a massage, be sure to inform them that you have rheumatoid arthritis so they can tailor the massage to your health needs. Heat treatments include warm baths or using a heating pad. A common cold treatment is applying an ice pack; be sure to cover your skin with a towel first to avoid injury from the cold.
