Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group ? When is the pain worse?

What time of day is the pain worst for you?When I toss and turn alot at night, I wake up fairly mobile - it only takes me a couple of minutes to get moving. By noon though I am starting to feel stiff and starting to hurt; by five I am in quite alot of pain and often start with the muscle spasms; by seven I am stuck in my recliner with a hot pad and lots of pain. My rheumatologist says this is not AS pain and stiffness since that is always worse in the morning. I do have AS and he is treating it but he says it must be getting better since my morning stiffness is not as severe. So I thought I would ask if everybody is more stiff and sore in the morning or if some of you have pain that increases throughout the day.Thanks.

Mickey

Hi Mickey,

I do rather well in the morning too. (Knock on Wood!) My pain was always the worst when I was just sitting, like at a computer or at a baseball game, anything along those lines.

Trinka

I'm definitely more stiff in the morning, but more sore in the evening. I really think the books are wrong about AS pain being worse in the morning. I find that daily movements and physical activity seem to add up and come to a peak of pain when I return home and sit down and relax for a while. But then again, why would you listen to me, my doctor doesn't even know what is wrong with me.

But that's my 2 cents worth anyway.

Johnny

Hi,

I am the same, I am stiff in the morning, but also in the least amount of pain (and try to do anything physical in the morning, as I know at night it will be almost impossible), as the day goes on, I get progressively worse until I am almost immobile at night. My Rhuemy also is a bit confused over this, but is pointing the finger at Indocid Sup, I take this just before I go to bed.
I think this goes against the norm for AS patients.

Hope this helps
Wayne

Hi,

I wake up a lot at night with my back and hips and sometimes tailbone in pain. I often wake up in the morning stiff and sometimes in pain. This past weekend I woke up with sore/aching ankles. I have noticed that in the evening I am often more in pain. The past few weeks have not been good, but this past week has been better.

But then, I was told I don't have AS, that my problem is all muscular.

Jen

When it was only in my back I would wake up with a sore back and sometimes it got better as the day went on and sometimes it would last for weeks. Now it is in my shouders and hips I usually wake up and know they are sore and as the day progresses
the pain escalates. By the end of the day I can hardly wait to go to bed and take something to help with the pain. I know my rhuemy always asks that same question. Are you stiff in the morning? I think they are so focused on that question that they ignore other areas. I really don't think there is a set pattern to the pain of AS but it is in the textbook as stiff in the morning relieved by activity and they are stuck on that.
And yes sitting for long periods does not agree with me either. At least now I know why.
Could never figure it out how other people could sit for long periods and not bother them.

Hi Trinka - I also get real stiff when I have to sit for any length of time.But if I have to sit in the evening - like at a grandkid's school function - then I need help to move. I try to schedule all of my activites between 10 and 2. Kinda hard to do and still have a life.

Mickey

Johnny - your doctor might not know what's wrong with you but you do know alot about this disease - which is why I would listen to your two cents worth.After you sit for awhile when you get home from work, and then start moving around again, does the stiffness and pain lessen or has it reached it's peak and stays there? When my fatigue gets real bad so that I have to lay down in the afternoon, I am more energetic afterwards but can't move cuz the AS feels so horrible. Go figure! I need to move a little all day but it still just gradually gets worse.

Mickey

Hi Wayne - so does the doc think that the Indocid is helping you in the morning and then wearing off as the day goes on? Your schedule seems to be the norm for me. I am going to bring the responses to my rheumy and try to get him to accept that this too is AS. He is fixated on morning pain and stiffness.

Mickey

Jen - On the mornings where I have slept soundly - usually on my methotrexate nights - I wake up stiff, bent over and in pain too. But the nights where I toss and turn and get up a couple of times then I wake up limber and nearly pain-free.Like you, my ankles are giving me fits. Good luck - hope your week continues to improve.

Mickey