Just wonderring if anyone else has great difficulty in answering the question, "how long does your morning stiffness last for in the mornings?"
It seems every time I go for an app. I am asked this question. I guess it must be a standard question and an imp. one to judge inflamation level, but I just never think about stiffness in that way and find it hard to answer.
If I am in a flare I feel stiff all day and depending on what I am doing stiffness comes and goes during the day. If I do too much I get stiff, if I sit or rest for a long time I get stiff. If I do not sleep well and am up and down during the night my general stiffness is less than if I have slept more better, it seems like a no win situation and one that I find hard to answer as they seem to need me to.
I have an app. coming up soon and just know that I will be it asked again! Any ideas ??
Zena xx

Hi ladies
I know, strange question......I don't clock watch my stiffness.
Mine varies as well.
At month its morning, slow time shuffling. Stiffness when I sit down for any length of time including gettin out of car, evening stiffness, nite stiffness.
Its bad at the moment from op and flare up, when its good can be 30 mins.
My husband brings my breakie up for me and pills....which helps me out lots.

Stairs are a nightmare, stair stiffness....I use one stick with one hand and grab the spindles with the other.

The hospital asks....I say how it is at the time my appointment ie good or , also they must relise by our levels from blood.

I must go, bad knee stiffness :-(

Jane

I agree with all your comments - when things were really bad the stiffness seemed never ending, but now my meds are working I notice it at different times- first thing in the morning of course, but it does clear as soon as I start moving and have a shower. Then I only notice it when I've been sitting in the same position for a while, and I need to move the joints around to "free them up" - my knees are the worst culprits and take a lot of easing some days!

Like Dorothy, I too made a daily log and gave it to the rheumy. I look back at it now and realise just how much better I feel, and I intend to repeat this at my next appointment - I suppose it's a bit like doing a DAS score but it takes account of the full day rather than just a single point in time

Sylvia.