Lupus patients often complain about feeling stiffness, swelling, or pain in their joints in the morning hours after waking up. In fact, mornings could be the hardest part of the day for those affected by lupus. The stiffness experienced in the morning is quite common among autoimmune disorders, and it helps to know why this occurs.
Lupus is an autoimmune disorder, meaning that the immune system is unable to distinguish and attacks healthy tissue and instead attacks its own healthy body.
Lupus predominantly affects the joints where inflammation can occur, build up over hours of inactive work and cause stiffness, inflammation and pain within the joints. During sleep while your body has been relaxed it allows inflammatory fluid to pool within the joint space and during rest it doesn’t move, this causes the joint to become stiff on waking.
Why Mornings Are the Worst
- Inactivity overnight:
While you are sleeping, your joints will remain still for several hours. Movement aids the natural lubrication of your joints, and helps keep them supple. Immobility results in the buildup of stiffness and pain, particularly on waking. - Joint Fluid Build up:
Fluid accumulation around the joints is common during inflammatory periods. This fluid will settle while the body is immobile during sleep and may feel worse on waking. - Circadian Rhythms:
The body has its own natural biological clock and circadian rhythms effect hormone levels. Low morning levels of anti-inflammatory hormones such as cortisol can result in pain feeling worse in the morning. - Muscle Tightness:
Tight muscles around the affected joint can contribute to the feeling of morning stiffness. This is usually due to immobility in a certain position during the night.
How Long Does Morning Stiffness Last?
Morning stiffness in those who have lupus can last for as short as several minutes or as long as several hours. It will often vary according to how active the disease is at the time of symptoms. A long-lasting and strong bout of stiffness will probably accompany a lupus flare. Knowing how long stiffness lasts can provide you with an interesting piece of information for your doctor.
If your morning joint pain is increasing, lasting longer, or significantly impacting your daily routines, consult your healthcare provider. Changes in your morning pain can reflect greater activity of your lupus and that a change in treatment is necessary.
Morning joint pain is a typical manifestation of lupus that can be very irritating at times, but it can be effectively managed. By knowing the role of inflammation and the consequences of immobility while sleeping at night, you can ease morning stiffness and help yourself feel more comfortable at the start of your day.
Lupus may bring many challenges in your life, but through knowledge and appropriate management, you can take charge of your condition.
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