All living well guides
Lifestyle
Sleep and Pain
Poor sleep and pain feed each other, and breaking the cycle helps both.
Video lesson
Why it matters
Even one bad night lowers the threshold for pain. Sleep problems are common in RA, lupus and especially fibromyalgia, and untreated sleep apnea is often missed.
What you can do
Keep a regular wake time, get morning daylight, limit caffeine after noon, keep the bedroom cool and dark, and put screens away an hour before bed. Time evening medicines and pain relief so stiffness doesn’t wake you.
Call your care team if
You snore loudly, stop breathing during sleep, or wake unrefreshed despite seven or more hours in bed.
At a glance
Topic
Lifestyle
Reviewed by Farhan Tahir, MD, FACR
Questions about your own care?
Book an in-person or telehealth consultation with Dr. Tahir.
For education only. Don’t start, stop or change a medicine without talking to your care team.