Fibromyalgia and pain in the morning
Last updated 21/02/2024 by The pain clinics - Interdisciplinary Health
Fibromyalgia and pain in the morning
Is your fibromyalgia linked to extra pain and symptoms in the morning?
Here are 5 common morning symptoms that many of those with fibromyalgia will recognize. Fibromyalgia and pain in the morning are unfortunately well known to many, and it can severely affect night sleep and sleep quality.
- Morning stiffness, poor sleep and exhaustion
Do you often wake up with an aching body, exhausted, stiff as a stick, swollen hands and feet, as well as large bags under the eyes? Many others with fibromyalgia will also nod approvingly to this. These morning symptoms can vary – and some mornings are worse than others. That is precisely why we want to give you more information about the five most classic symptoms and what you can do to alleviate them. Remember that we are always available if you want to contact us or have questions.
"Too many people with fibromyalgia don't have gold in their mouths in the morning"
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"The article has been written and quality checked by publicly authorized health personnel. This includes both physiotherapists and chiropractors at Pain clinics Interdisciplinary Health (see clinic overview here). We always recommend having your pain assessed by knowledgeable healthcare personnel."
Tips: Further down in the guide you will get good advice on self-help measures such as the use of ergonomic head pillow, foam roll og trigger point ball.
- Let us hear your experiences in the comments section
This article reviews five common morning symptoms in those with fibromyalgia - some of them might surprise you. At the bottom of the article, you can also read comments from other readers or make your own input.
1. Fibromyalgia and fatigue in the morning
Do you also struggle with waking up exhausted after a good night's sleep? Fatigue, tiredness and tiredness in the morning is a classic morning symptom in those with fibromyalgia. There is a quite natural reason why we wake up exhausted compared to healthy people who feel rested in the morning… we sleep poorly.
Fibromyalgia may be linked to:
Bruxism (teeth grinding)
Insomnia
Sleep apnea and breathing disorders
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
Research has also shown that many people have abnormal sleep patterns that interfere with deep sleep.¹ This is the sleep phase where you get the most and best rest for both brain and body. Lighter and more restless sleep does not lead to the same the charge - and thus you can often wake up tired, frustrated and tired.
– Disturbed night sleep
Even one of the above problems is enough to go hard beyond the night's sleep. If you are affected by several of them, for example both teeth grinding and restless legs syndrome, this will make it even more difficult to get a good night's sleep. Studies have shown that pillows with modern memory foam can reduce symptoms due to sleep apnea and breathing disorders.² Their results showed reduced incidence of snoring, better oxygen uptake and reduced sleep apnea symptoms. Very interesting! And that shows how important a good pillow is.
Tip 1: Try a modern memory foam pillow
With reference to the above study from the medical journal Frontiers in medicine we can recommend this modern memory foam pillow. It provides exceptionally good comfort and contributes to the correct position for the neck and airways when you sleep. Press here to read more about this pillow.
2. Allodynia and fibromyalgia
After considering the common sleep disorders associated with fibromyalgia, we must also add the rest of the fibromyalgia symptoms. Fibromyalgia is categorized throughout seven different types of pain which can definitely help keep us awake and make sure we twist in the bed just about all night.
- Lack of sleep is a mental strain
Mental anxiety and mental impact from lack of sleep make it difficult to relax. Combined with increased sensitivity to sound and light, this means that even smaller things can wake us up abruptly from sleep - and make it almost impossible to sleep again.
Tip 2: Use a good sleep mask with extra space for the eyes
Many sleep masks are uncomfortable because they lie uncomfortably against the eyes. However, this variant of sleep mask can be recommended, as it has extra space for the eyes and is thus perceived as more comfortable. Read more about it here (link opens in a new browser window).
- When light touches hurt
One of the seven different pains one can experience with fibromyalgia is called allodynia. With this type of pain, the slightest touch, even from the duvet or pyjamas, can cause obvious pain. Sometimes fibromyalgia is called for the "princess on the pea" syndrome due to this episodic hypersensitivity where even light touch is painful.
3. Temperature sensitivity, sweating and chills
Do you sometimes wake up in the morning completely freezing or completely warm? Temperature sensitivity is another symptom that can affect how tired you feel in the morning. We with fibromyalgia are exposed to sensitivity to both cold and heat - and due to the body's weakened ability to regulate this; increased sweating.
- Large temperature fluctuations?
To lie under the duvet and feel cold - to then feel hot 30 minutes later, can ruin the sleep of most people. Many people often experience that they feel so cold in the morning that they struggle to get out from under the duvet.
- Tackle your sleep problems
If you are plagued with sleep problems, we strongly recommend that you be referred for a sleep study by your GP. Any findings (for example uncovering sleep apnea) can lead to effective treatment – such as a CPAP machine for sleep apnea. Pain-relieving exercises and treatment can also be important keys to improving your sleep. Others may experience a good effect from milder measures, such as nightly use of a nasal inhaler. Such devices have documented that they can contribute to increased oxygen uptake at night and reduce snoring.
Tip 3: Nasal breathing device for better sleep (and less snoring)
The way it works is by stimulating a jaw position that opens up the airways, thus ensuring that the air is not "trapped" or met with resistance, such as with snoring (breathing disorders). Easy to use and naturally more comfortable than CPAP. read more here .
4. Morning stiffness and aching in the body
It is relatively common to wake up and feel stiff and numb in the body in the morning - but it is often different for those with fibromyalgia. Many people with fibromyalgia describe this stiffness and effect as significantly stronger than in healthy people.
- Like a minor car accident
In fact, it has been reported to be of such a significant degree that it is comparable to the muscle pain healthy people may experience after significant physical exertion – or, even, a minor car accident. Sif known, fibromyalgia is directly linked to hypersensitivity in soft tissue and muscles. This means that there needs to be less sitting and strain before we stiffen up and the muscles contract. Perhaps you have noticed that you are always sitting and moving a little? It is the fibromyalgia that requires this of you.
- The next one is the best (but not at night!)
By constantly changing our position slightly we will vary the strain on the muscles. Eventually, the new position will also cause aches and pains. So then we move again. Unfortunately, this is something that can be difficult to achieve at night - and that is precisely why you may feel extra stiff and stiff in the morning.
5. Swollen hands and feet - and swelling around the eyes
Many of us wake up with slight swelling in our hands and feet - or around our eyes. This can also cause excruciating pain. It is not entirely certain why those with fibromyalgia often seem to be more affected by this. But there are several theories.
– Fibromyalgia and fluid retention
Certain research studies have shown a relationship with fluid retention and fibromyalgia. So with this chronic pain diagnosis we seem to hold more fluid in the body than others. This phenomenon is known as idiopathic edema. We remind you that compression gloves (see example here - the links open in a new reader window) has a documented effect on rheumatic pain and swelling in the hands.
Tip 4: Use compression gloves against edema
These are a good pair of compression gloves that stimulate fluid drainage, while also providing good support and protection. You can read more about them here . A practical self-measure that is easy to use.
– Stimulate fluid drainage with hand exercises
Light hand exercises in the morning can help you fight the swelling and get your blood circulating. Feel free to take a look at the seven exercises that we show in the article below.
Also read: - 7 Exercises for Hand Osteoarthritis
Water expelling drugs and natural treatment
There are drugs that have a diuretic effect - that is, we get more frequent urination than usual. However, not everyone works on this. Again, it is believed that this can be linked to generally poorer circulation in many people with fibromyalgia - and that there is a higher risk of fluid accumulating through inactivity or sleep.
- Can affect fine motor skills
In many cases, the swelling or swelling will not cause any problems - but for many it can lead to both pain and difficulties in using the hands properly. Common problems include pain when stepping on a swollen foot in the morning or difficulty with fine motor skills in the hands of morning sickness (feeling clumsy).
– Ginger against swelling?
Many also know the problem of using swollen hands to put on makeup to cover swollen eyes! In addition to regular medications, there are also natural diets that can help reduce headache. One of the more effective dietary advice is to drink ginger before you go to bed or as soon as you get up in the morning.
– Lymphatic drainage massage and physical treatment
Other treatments that can help include lymphatic drainage massage and physical therapy aimed at stiff joints and tense muscles. It's also worth mentioning that certain medicines and painkillers can cause swelling as a side effect, so feel free to check your medicine leaflet if you're unsure.
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Summary: Fibromyalgia and pain in the morning
We hope that this article has been useful to you and that you now understand more about how fibromyalgia may be linked to morning pain and symptoms. At the same time, we also hope that you have received some good tips and advice that you may want to put into use from today. Also remember that you can contact us if you have any questions.
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Article: Fibromyalgia and pain in the morning (5 common symptoms)
Written by: Our publicly authorized chiropractors and physiotherapists at Vondtklinikkene
Fact check: Our articles are always based on serious sources, research studies and research journals - such as PubMed and the Cochrane Library. Please contact us if you spot any errors or have comments.
Research and sources
1. Choy et al, 2015. The role of sleep in pain and fibromyalgia. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2015 Sep;11(9):513-20
2. Stavrou et al, 2022. Memory Foam Pillow as an Intervention in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Preliminary Randomized Study. Front Med (Lausanne). 2022 Mar 9:9:842224.
MORNING!
Morning is an English word.