9 tips for sleeping better with arthritis

From restless.co.uk

Arthritis causes sore joints, which can make it tricky to get good-quality sleep. In fact, research suggests that as many as 80% of people with arthritis have trouble falling and/or staying asleep.

However, while sleep can be an incredibly frustrating topic for those with arthritis, several things may help improve your chances of getting more restorative rest.

With this in mind, we’ve pulled together nine tips for sleeping better with arthritis. We hope you find them useful.

What’s the link between arthritis and sleep?

Arthritis can make it tricky to get quality sleep due to the pain and discomfort it causes. Some people struggle to find a comfortable sleeping position, while others find that bouts of joint pain can wake them.

Not only can this be frustrating, but getting enough sleep is also essential for health, particularly when managing long-term health conditions like arthritis. This is because body tissue grows and repairs during sleep, and our immune system recovers.

Experts have revealed the relationship between arthritis pain and poor sleep works both ways – just as arthritis pain can disrupt sleep, lack of sleep can increase pain and impact the body’s ability to heal. So, it can be easy to find yourself in an unpleasant cycle.

This study found that sleep loss intensified pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Perhaps unsurprisingly, research has also revealed that those with arthritis pain who have trouble sleeping are more likely to experience depression.

Therefore, it’s important to find ways to overcome the difficulties of sleeping with arthritis to better manage the condition, while considering your health and mental wellbeing as much as possible.

9 tips for sleeping better with arthritis

Now that we’ve explored the link between arthritis and sleep, here are some possible ways to increase your chances of getting more restorative rest…

1. Invest in a good-quality mattress

One of the best ways to improve your sleep is to invest in a good-quality mattress.

According to research, a mattress that’s too firm can place pressure on your back and neck, leading to spine misalignment. Similarly, if a mattress is so soft that your body sinks into it, this can negatively affect posture and aggravate arthritis symptoms.

The age of your mattress can also play a role; worn-out springs are often unable to provide your body with the support it needs.

In this study, 59 people were asked to sleep on their old mattresses for one month before trying a new one the following month. During the second month, participants’ stress levels dropped significantly, which experts put down to a reduction in back pain caused by the old mattress.

For more information on what to look out for when it comes to your mattress, check out our article: 9 ways your mattress can affect health and how to choose the right mattress for you.

2. Find a comfortable sleeping position

A good sleeping position supports the natural curvature of your spine – from your hips to your head. That said, what feels most comfortable will largely depend on which parts of your body are affected by arthritis pain.

For example, some people with knee arthritis find it helpful to sleep on their back with a pillow placed beneath their knees. For arthritis of the hip, it’s generally best to avoid sleeping sideways on the painful area.

For more information on the pros and cons of different sleeping positions, check out our article: What are the best and worst sleeping positions? The Arthritis Foundation also offers advice on the best sleeping positions for different types of arthritis.

3. Stay active

It’s normal to feel apprehensive about exercise if you have arthritis due to the fear that it could exacerbate joint pain. But research has consistently shown that staying active is one of the best things you can do for your joints.

While high-impact exercise like running and high-intensity interval training may place unnecessary stress on your joints, low-impact activities such as walking, yoga, Pilates, and Tai Chi can reduce arthritis symptoms.

For example, this review found that exercise reduced pain, stiffness, and fatigue in people with rheumatoid arthritis. Other research has shown that people with arthritis who exercise regularly have improved sleep patterns, energy, and day-to-day functioning.

For ideas on how to add more exercise to your routine, you might be interested in our articles: 15 low-impact exercise ideas and 7 low-impact exercises you can do at home. 

4. Consider using heat therapy before bed

Applying a heated compress is one of the oldest, most affordable, and popular methods for relieving joint pain – and research has shown that heat treatments can effectively relax stiff joints.

When you warm up a sore joint or muscle, blood vessels in the area grow. Not only does this improve the delivery of nutrients and oxygen to the area, but greater circulation is also effective at relaxing joints.

As a result, some people find that easing a painful joint with a heating pad for around 15-20 minutes before bed helps them sleep better. Amazon* has a range of arthritis heat pads. Alternatively, a soothing bath has a similar effect.

Remember to allow your body time to cool down afterwards, as it can be tricky to sleep when you’re too warm.

5. Find the right pillow for you

Making sure that your head and neck are in a comfortable, well-supported position is key for getting good sleep – and can also affect how your neck feels the following day. According to experts, the ideal pillow should fill the space between your ear and the mattress.

When lying on your back, it’s important to choose a pillow that supports your neck without tilting your head too far forward. If you’re a side sleeper, the pillow should support your head so that it’s in line with your neck without tilting it too much.

Some people who suffer from neck pain find that using extra pillows to support their arms at night makes sleeping more comfortable, and others prefer feather pillows, as these tend to be easier to mould into shape. That said, everyone’s different, so it’s important to find what works for you.

For more guidance, you might find our article, 7 tips to help you choose the right pillow, useful. Or, for more arthritis-specific advice, Health and Care’s article on best arthritis pillows covers many suitable options for both side and back sleepers.

6. Establish a bedtime routine

The circadian rhythm is the body’s internal clock, which, when properly aligned, helps regulate sleep patterns.

Establishing an effective and consistent bedtime routine can play a significant role in regulating your circadian rhythm. This is because our brains become attuned to recognising patterns and behaviours that signal when it’s time to sleep – for example, journaling, meditating, and winding down for bed away from electronics.

Bedtime routines have also been found to play a key role in reducing nighttime stress and anxiety that, when left unchecked, have been linked with an increased likelihood of insomnia.

You’ll find plenty of tips for establishing an effective nighttime routine in our article: How to design the perfect bedroom for sleep. Or, if you’d like to learn more about how your internal body clock works, check out our article: Everything you need to know about melatonin and the circadian rhythm.

7. Avoid caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime

Whether you have arthritis or not, general health advice warns that caffeine and alcohol can have negative impacts on sleep.

Caffeine is a stimulant, so having too much of it or drinking it too close to bedtime can make it more difficult to fall asleep. Studies have also found that it can disrupt the circadian rhythm. So, if you’re a coffee drinker, it’s worth experimenting with a cut-off point during the day – for example, 3pm – to see if it improves your sleep. In addition, experts recommend drinking no more than four or five cups of brewed coffee per day.

Similarly, studies show that while drinking large amounts of alcohol before bed may cause people to fall asleep faster, it also increases the likelihood of poor sleep quality and disruption. There’s a reason why you often wake up feeling groggy after a drink!

So, it can help to limit your alcohol intake, particularly before bed. And, in cases where sleep quality is especially poor, it might be worth eliminating it from your diet.

8. Take steps to manage stress

There’s a strong link between stress and arthritis. Research shows that increased stress triggers higher levels of inflammation throughout the body. Stress can also cause muscles to tense, further compounding joint pain.

As a result, managing your stress levels can make a world of difference to arthritis pain and sleep quality. This might mean practising deep breathing, exploring ways to connect with nature, or using distraction techniques.

For more ideas, you might like to read our articles: 7 tips for coping with stress and anxiety and 9 simple stress-relieving activities.

9. Experiment with arthritis pain-relief products

Alongside lifestyle changes like establishing a nighttime routine and limiting caffeine and alcohol intake, there are also several products designed to ease arthritis pain and discomfort that may help you sleep better.

For example, some people with hand arthritis find that arthritis gloves help manage pain. These work by applying gentle pressure to the hands to increase blood flow and hand temperature, which can help with discomfort. Arthritis gloves are available to buy on Amazon*.

Adjustable beds are another option to consider. These can be highly effective for relieving arthritis pain because they evenly distribute body weight and improve blood flow. While these can be expensive, many people find them worth it. For more information, have a read of these four surprising ways adjustable beds can relieve arthritis from Willowbrook.

You may also find our article on the potential benefits of CBD oil interesting. Some studies have suggested that CBD oil may offer anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties that could benefit people with arthritis. However, further research is needed to confirm these findings.

Final thoughts…

Arthritis can be uncomfortable, painful, and frustrating to live with, particularly when it gets in the way of sleep. However, while there’s no magic solution, we hope some of these ideas will help you get better, more restorative rest.

For further reading, head over to our sleep and fatigue and general health sections. Here, you’ll find content on everything from insomnia and bone health to diet tips for healthy joints.

https://restless.co.uk/health/healthy-body/tips-for-sleeping-better-with-arthritis/?utm_source=midweek-email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=midweek_email_26-03-19_general&utm_content=midweek_email_26-03-19_general

Hip and knee arthritis? Here’s what can help your pain

From ahchealthenews.com

Joint pain is often linked to hip and knee arthritis. As arthritis develops, everyday activities get harder – from walking and exercising to simply getting up from a chair.

“Arthritis is the degeneration and wearing down of cartilage,” says Dr. James Lieber, an orthopaedic surgeon at Advocate Health Care who specializes in hip and knee replacement. “Cartilage is the smooth surface that cushions the joint and helps it move freely.”

When that cartilage breaks down, the joint loses its protective cushion. This can lead to pain, stiffness and difficulty moving.

While arthritis can’t be reversed, several treatments may help reduce pain and improve movement, so you can get back to the activities you enjoy.

Start with nonsurgical treatments

Dr. Lieber says treatment for arthritis often begins with more conservative options that focus on reducing pain and improving hip and knee function.

Your health care provider may recommend trying:

• Physical therapy to strengthen muscles around the joint
• Anti-inflammatory medications to reduce pain and swelling
• Corticosteroid injections placed directly into the joint to reduce swelling

Many find relief by combining treatments with healthy lifestyle habits. Low impact exercises, such as swimming, walking and cycling, can help keep your joints flexible and strengthen the muscles that support them.

When joint replacement may help

If your arthritis pain continues, joint replacement may be an option. In fact, Dr. Lieber says most hip and knee replacements are performed because of arthritis.

Joint replacement surgery removes damaged bone and cartilage and replaces it with an artificial joint. Advances in materials and surgical techniques mean the artificial joint could last your lifetime.

Joint replacement recovery

Joint replacement doesn’t always require a hospital stay anymore.

“For many patients, hip and knee replacements have become an outpatient surgery,” Dr. Lieber says. “You go home the same day and can put full weight on the joint immediately after surgery.”

Once fully recovered, there’s typically no activity restrictions. Share your long-term activity goals with your surgeon so you can work together to decide if joint replacement is the right option for you.

Don’t ignore joint pain

Hip or knee pain is not something you have to live with.

“It doesn’t hurt to come in, get an X-ray and see if your pain is from arthritis or from another cause,” Dr. Lieber says. “There are a lot of different tools in our toolbox we can use to help reduce your pain.”

https://www.ahchealthenews.com/2026/03/18/hip-and-knee-arthritis-what-can-help-pain/

Why arthritis in children can threaten eyesight

From medicalxpress.com

Arthritis is often associated with older age, but it also affects children. One of the most common forms is juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), an inflammatory condition that causes persistent joint swelling and pain.

For reasons that remain unclear, between 10% and 30% of children with JIA also develop uveitis, an inflammatory disease of the eye. In some cases, this eye inflammation does not respond to treatment and can lead to sight loss.

A recent study from our laboratory shows that immune cells called B cells, best known for producing antibodies, play a previously underappreciated role in driving this process and may point to new treatment approaches.

JIA is diagnosed when a child or young person under 16 develops inflammation in at least one joint for more than six weeks with no clear cause. Around one in 1,000 children in the UK are affected. The condition includes several subtypes, most of which are autoimmune, meaning the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own tissues.

Outcomes vary. With treatment, some children experience long periods of remission and may outgrow the condition. For others, inflammation persists into adulthood and can cause joint damage and disability. JIA can also affect organs beyond the joints, including the skin, gut and eyes. When it involves the eye, the condition is known as JIA-associated uveitis.

Much remains unknown about why some children with JIA develop eye inflammation while others do not. It is unclear whether the same immune pathways drive disease in both joints and eyes, or why inflammation most often affects the front of the eye, known as anterior uveitis. In many cases, the condition is silent and painless, allowing damage to accumulate unnoticed. Regular eye screening is therefore essential.

                                                                                                        Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Several risk factors are well established. Girls and children who develop JIA early in life, particularly before the age of six, are more likely to develop uveitis. Children who test positive for antinuclear antibodies are also at increased risk.

Even so, the biological mechanisms linking arthritis and eye disease remain poorly understood, and the role of antibody-producing B cells has received relatively little attention.

To investigate this, our study analyzed blood samples from more than 150 children with arthritis. Certain types of B cells were more abundant in those who had developed uveitis than in children with arthritis alone. A distinctive aspect of the research was the opportunity to examine samples taken directly from affected eyes.

In some children, uveitis can lead to cataracts or glaucoma, making surgery necessary to preserve vision. During these procedures, small amounts of biological material that would normally be discarded can be collected for research. Using these samples, we found that activated B cells had migrated into the eyes of children with JIA-associated uveitis.

Laboratory experiments showed that blocking communication between B cells and another type of immune cell, known as T cells, significantly reduced inflammation. The drug used to achieve this is already being tested in clinical trials for multiple sclerosis and lupus, raising the possibility of repurposing it for children with treatment-resistant disease.

The need for new approaches is clear. Currently, one in four children with JIA-associated uveitis do not respond to the only approved biologic therapy, and by age 18 nearly a third have lost some vision in at least one eye.

These findings point to a potential new treatment pathway and highlight a broader issue in medical research. There is often a delay of many years before therapies developed for adults are tested in children, even when the underlying inflammatory mechanisms are similar.

Improving how discoveries are translated into paediatric care could significantly change outcomes for children with arthritis and uveitis. Earlier intervention, targeted therapies and faster access to treatments already being explored in adult disease may help prevent vision loss, and reduce the long-term burden on children and their families.

https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-03-arthritis-children-threaten-eyesight.html 

Surprising Signs of Psoriatic Arthritis

From healthcentral.com

Best known for causing joint pain and skin issues, PsA can also bring on dizziness and low libido 

With psoriatic arthritis (PsA), the most common symptoms are joint pain and skin issues, like plaques, according to Zhanna Mikulik, M.D., a rheumatologist at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, OH. But other less-common symptoms can sometimes appear. “In some cases, you may have only one issue, like eye disease, or stiffness without pain,” she says. “That’s why it’s important to know all the potential symptoms, rather than waiting for plaques or aching joints.” If you’ve already been diagnosed with PsA, you’ll want these lesser known symptoms on your radar.

Hearing Loss

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In a study in The Journal of Rheumatology, researchers looked at 60 people with PsA with no history of problems with inner ear infections or other conditions that might affect hearing. They found that 60% of participants had abnormal hearing loss, which suggests PsA may contribute to inner ear damage. Another study of more than 10,000 people found similar results; those researchers suggested chronic inflammation from PsA affects the structure of the inner ear. The researchers noted that hearing loss may impact mental health, too. If you’ve been diagnosed with PsA and are having trouble hearing, talk to your doctor.

Dizziness

Your inner ear is responsible for preventing dizziness and vertigo. So along with hearing issues, inner ear inflammation can lead to other symptoms such as poor balance and dizziness. These effects can be particularly pronounced if you're taking medications such as antidepressants, sleep aids, or blood pressure drugs, according to Anca Askanase, M.D., a professor of medicine in the division of rheumatology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City. Dizziness can also worsen if you're dealing with dehydration, low blood sugar, or low blood pressure, in addition to your PsA, she adds.

Low Libido

Recent research suggests that people with psoriatic arthritis are more likely to experience sexual dysfunction than those without the condition. Physical discomfort during intimacy, anxiety about lack of desire, and side effects from treatment can play a role, says psychotherapist Lee Phillips, Ed.D, a certified sex and couples therapist in New York City and Washington DC, and host of the Sex and Chronic Illness podcast. “PsA and other chronic diseases tend to disrupt the desire and arousal phases of the sexual response cycle,” Phillips says. “Talking to your health provider or a therapist can be hugely helpful for navigating this issue.”

Tendon Pain

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Enthesitis, which is inflammation at the insertion sites of tendons and ligaments into the bone (called entheses), is seen in up to 40% of people with psoriatic arthritis, says Dr. Mikulik. Unlike joint pain, which can feel sharp and deep within a joint, enthesitis is usually an ongoing ache that comes with tenderness. One common example in people with PsA is plantar fasciitis, which causes a “stretched too tight” feeling in the tendon on the bottom of the foot. Enthesitis can also target the shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and heel of the foot. Stretching, meds, and ice can all help.

Dactylitis (a.k.a. Sausage Fingers)

Sometimes called “sausage fingers,” dactylitis is characterized by swollen, painful fingers and toes. This can affect just one digit or several, says Dr. Mikulik. Unless it’s managed, she adds, ongoing swelling may cause damage to the affected joints and make it difficult to do everyday activities. Usually, with PsA, the swelling is asymmetrical—for example, you may notice issues with your right hand and left foot. Research suggests about 40% of people with PsA deal with dactylitis. Like other PsA symptoms, dactylitis is related to uncontrolled inflammation, so treatment options address that cause.

Eye Issues

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Inflammation with psoriatic arthritis can also severely affect the eyes. The most common outcome is conjunctivitis (a.k.a. “pink eye”), which is seen in around 20% of people with PsA, says Dr. Mikulik. “This presents as redness, itching, tearing, and possibly crusting of the eye,” she notes. “It happens when the outer membrane of the eyeball and inner eyelid become inflamed.” Another concern is uveitis—a condition that can cause redness, eye pain, light sensitivity, and blurry vision. Dr. Mikulik says it occurs in about 7% of those with PsA. Conjunctivitis is usually treated with an antibiotic, while steroids are typically prescribed for uveitis.

Depression

Any chronic disease can prompt emotional health challenges, and PsA is no exception, says Dr. Phillips. A study in Rheumatology and Therapy found depression affects about 20% of those with PsA—but that number may be higher, as not everyone with psoriatic arthritis and depression gets diagnosed. The study suggests that depression is more likely if PsA is accompanied by an additional chronic disease, known as a comorbidity. If you’re struggling with sadness, anger, or irritability, be sure to bring it up with your doctor so you can start on the path to feeling like yourself again.

Lower Back Pain

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As a result of PsA, you may develop a condition called spondylitis, which involves inflammation in the joints of the vertebrae. Spondylitis causes stiffness, Dr. Mikulik says, which tends to be worse in the morning, but gets better with activity. For this reason, gentle stretching and regular movement is recommended. This type of pain and stiffness is most common in the lower back, but can occur anywhere in the spine, including the neck.

High Blood Pressure

The risk of heart disease may be nearly double in people with psoriatic arthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation, due to body-wide inflammation that can lead to high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Because of this, it’s crucial to get regular check-ups and manage your PsA well, says Dr. Askanase. Uncontrolled inflammation can narrow arteries and reduce the flow of blood to the heart and other organs, putting you at higher risk for a cardiovascular event like heart attack or stroke. Bottom line: If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, talk with your doctor. Together you’ll come up with a plan to keep PsA at bay.

https://www.healthcentral.com/slideshow/ways-psoriatic-arthritis-affects-your-body?ap=nl2060&rhid=67ec2b8321f52bf01b0cca01&mui=&lid=141093361&mkt_tok=NTQxLUdLWi0yNDMAAAGgmxXdJZxhTum4Nzb_JpUkx8UCUV9uREXlc31mwz374IoHVkX9YIqw0VzKGl_1o6bD0mulCkZLRqH_J2GmXVgB7tyf0xpWcFNDm9Zl24bxg_ayHXU