The vicious cycle of being lethargic all day, tossing and turning at night, and feeling low for a long time is the suffering that most rheumatoid arthritis patients are experiencing. Sleeping is relaxing, but since suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, I have hardly slept a good night's sleep.
1、 Why do rheumatic patients suffer from insomnia?
1. Caused by the disease itself, such as certain neurological and psychiatric disorders such as vasculitis, lupus erythematosus, etc.
2. Treatment drugs can cause neurological excitement and insomnia, especially when used in large doses for a long time, such as long-term use of glucocorticoids.
3. Rheumatic and immune diseases are chronic diseases that can cause psychological stress and lead to anxiety and insomnia in patients.
2、 What should rheumatic patients do if they suffer from insomnia?
1. Actively treat the primary disease
If it is joint swelling and pain that makes it difficult to sleep, inform the doctor in a timely manner, adjust medication, and if necessary, add nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Celebrex) after dinner, or use small amounts (1-2 tablets) of glucocorticoids at night for a short period of time to strengthen anti infection treatment and reduce joint pain.
If rheumatic disease combined with peripheral neuropathy causes numbness and pain, making it difficult to sleep, it is necessary to promptly add nutritional nerve drugs and adjust the medication plan for rheumatic disease to strengthen the control of the primary disease.
2. Adjust the dosage of hormones according to the condition. If insomnia is caused by excessive hormone dosage and strong neural excitability caused by hormones, sleeping pills can be used for short-term symptomatic treatment. When the condition is under control, the dosage of hormones should be reduced as soon as possible.
3. Adjust your mindset, actively face illness, and if necessary, seek psychological counseling for adjustment.
If insomnia is caused by emotional factors, the first priority is to adjust one's mentality and face it positively. If it still cannot be improved, antidepressant and anti anxiety drugs can be used as appropriate.
3、 Introduction to Traditional Chinese Medicine Sleep Aid Tips:
1. Acupoint Massage:
Massage the Shenmen acupoint (located at the crease of the wrist on the side of the little finger) for 2-3 minutes, with moderate intensity and a degree of soreness, which can promote the patient's relaxation and stability, thereby inducing sleep;
The sleeping point is located at the midpoint of the line connecting the Yifeng point (located in the depression behind the earlobe) and the Fengchi point (located in the depression under the occipital bone of the posterior neck). The point pressing and kneading methods are used to massage the acupoint for 2-3 minutes each time, with a degree of soreness and swelling;
Massaging the Yongquan acupoint is commonly referred to as rubbing the soles of the feet. The method is simple: rub your palms together until your hands are warm, then use our right hand to rub the left foot center (located in the middle of the front third of the foot), and use our left hand to rub the right foot center until you feel warm.
2. After washing your feet before going to bed, tap 120 times on the gushing spring (located on the sole of the foot, in the front one-third of the foot, in the depression when bending the toe) and the third mile of the foot (located three inches below the knee on the outer side of both legs). The force should not be too strong, and it is advisable to experience swelling and pain.
3. Ear acupressure: Generally, several acupoints such as Shenmen, Xin, sympathetic, occipital, and subcortical are selected for ear acupressure, which can have a calming effect on the heart and mind. After sticking the ear acupoints, massage them when you have free time (usually 3 to 5 times a day, pressing each acupoint for 1 to 2 minutes).
4. Foot massage before bedtime: Boil 2000 milliliters of Chuanxiong, Baizhi, Gouteng, Xiacao, Achyranthes, etc. in water, soak once a night, and one week is one course of treatment.
5. Diet conditioning: diet should be light and yin should be quiet. You can eat some yin nourishing and refreshing food, such as lily lotus seed Congee, sweet wheat and jujube Congee (liquorice, floating wheat, jujube), sour jujube kernel Congee, etc. Don't eat too much before going to bed. The book "Su Wen: On the Theory of Adverse Regulation" records that "if the stomach is not in harmony, you will feel restless." Any disharmony between the spleen and stomach, phlegm dampness, food stagnation, and internal disturbance can all cause insomnia.
Summary: Although insomnia is not a serious disease, it is very important for health. Lack of sleep can cause discomfort symptoms such as fatigue, headaches, memory loss, and elevated blood pressure. For rheumatic patients with long-term insomnia, it can also lead to a decrease in their immune function, endocrine disorders, and affect their normal life and treatment. Therefore, rheumatism patients who suffer from insomnia must take it seriously, intervene early, and if necessary, take appropriate medication under the guidance of a doctor to relieve insomnia.