Achy arm and leg only when trying to sleep

[chirpybirdy]

Hi, I am a 44 year old female. No health problems. I am not over weight. I am not extremly active but not a couch potato either. My problem is that when I go to sleep at night my shoulder, arm, hip and leg muscle ache and throb on the side I am laying on. I have to flip-flop all night long every 15 to 20 minutes to get relief on that side only to have it happen on the new side I just turned onto. It is very annoying. I don't sleep much during the night anymore. I come in and out of sleep waking to pain and throbing. I feel like I am 100 years old when I try and turn over. I grunt and moan when I turn because it hurts. I get instant relief on the one side I am no longer laying on only to have the new side start to hurt. By the end of the night I am so sore on both sides that I don't find relief anymore and can't wait to get  up. I find I hate to sleep now because I don't get a good nights sleep anymore. Once I am up and out of bed I am just fine and don't have any pain anymore. I have a very soft mattress with a 3 inch memory foam topper (i was told that this was the best foam to relieve pressure points). Do you think this is just a case of sensitive pressure points or do you think there is something wrong? I don't even know what type of doctor to start at for a diagnosis so I have just been ignoring it and thinking it is just part of getting older. But I really miss my sleep and want to enjoy sleeping again.

[chirpybirdy]

I always though if it was Fibromyalgia that I would have pain during the day too not just when I try to sleep. I am perfectly pain free during the day. And my pain is only on the side that I am laying on. Once I flip then the side that is up starts to feel much better until I flip back over again.

How do they diagnose Fibromyalgia anyway. Does something show up on an MRI that will indicate you have this condition or is it just what they diagnose after ruling out everything else?

Jane

[Dr Santos]

Hi,

Muscle aches or myalgia are common and can involve more than one muscle. Muscle pain also can involve ligaments, tendons, and fascia, the soft tissues that connect muscles, bones, and organs. This is most frequently related to tension, overuse, or muscle injury from exercise or physically-demanding work. Muscle pain also can be a sign of conditions affecting your whole body, like some infections and disorders that affect connective tissues throughout the body. One common cause of muscle aches and pain is fibromyalgia, a condition that includes tenderness in your muscles and surrounding soft tissue, sleep difficulties, fatigue, and headaches.

When pain is minor over-the-counter pain medications may be helpful. When emotional disturbance, such as stress or depression affects pain,an antidepressant may be effective even if you are not seriously depressed. Muscle aches from overuse and fibromyalgia often respond well to massage. Gentle stretching exercises after a long rest period are also helpful. Yoga and meditation are excellent ways to help you sleep and relax. If your condition persists, it would be best to see your doctor for proper management such as prescription medication, physical therapy referral, or referral to a specialized pain clinic.

Take care and keep us posted.