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The biggest difference between morning stiffness in people with OA and those with inflammatory arthritis is how long it lasts. For those with osteoarthritis, the stiffness often lasts just a few minutes and eases once you start moving. If you have inflammatory arthritis, it may take an hour or longer to go away.
Morning stiffness is the most common symptom of ankylosing spondylitis, which mainly affects the spine, hips, and knees. With AS, you most often have stiffness in your low back and neck.
As with RA and OA, long periods of rest -- like 8 hours of sleep -- make stiffness worse for people with AS. But it eases with a hot shower or light exercise.
Other health conditions that can cause morning stiffness include:
If you wake up feeling seriously stiff and sore for more than 3 days in a row, make an appointment with your doctor.
Your doctor may check your joints, run bloodwork, or test your joint fluid to check for inflammation. The results will help determine the cause of morning stiffness and help your doctor figure out how to treat you.
If you have OA, you might take over-the-counter pain medication.
If inflammatory arthritis is to blame, your doctor will likely prescribe an anti-inflammatory drug. A class of medications called biologics have been shown to reduce morning stiffness and decrease pain, swelling, and fatigue.
Whatever the cause of your morning stiffness, your doctor may also suggest:
No one wants to start the day feeling stiff and sore. Finding out the cause of your stiffness and establishing a treatment plan can help you wake up ready to start the day.
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