Leg pain while sleeping

I get the same thing. I get shooting pains in my legs and my feet so much so that it wakes me up over and over all night long.

I have to sleep on my side as well and I have to keep switching from side to side all restless night long!!

I have RA in my knees so I'm guessing that is what the cause is.

I have talked to my rheumatoligist about this but he just told me to do some streches before bed... I've tried but it's like my legs then seize up when I sleep.... and I get wicked cramps!!

Let me know if you get a "fix" for this... best of luck to you!!

If you can get as many little naps as you can during the day.. that way you won't feel sooo tired when you don't get a decent nights sleep.

I have a similar problem but it is only on one side , in my hip and knee which is where my ra is. I quess i am lucky that I only have it on one side. Although any pressure placed on my knee throughout the night, even when my knees are together is very uncomfortable. It was really bad before I started meds and I would wake up in horrible pain in the middle of the night. Now with meds I do get a little relief. Another person wrote in that if they take naps it helps. I find that also. But being a teacher anda mother of two that is very rare. I do take a Tylenol PM every night and I feel more rested in the am when I do that.

When you have problems in your joints or your spine, it often manifests in the legs, particularly lying in the same position for a long time. You may want to try supporting your legs with pillows or place a pillow between your knees when you're lying on your side, like many pregnant women do. If you're lying on your back, putting a very flat pillow or a folded towel under your knee can ease the pain somewhat, but be careful that you don't end up way your knee being unable to stretch completely because it's lying in a slightly bent position overnight. Taking a painkiller or perhaps a muscle relaxants just before you go to sleep may also help you get a better sleep. As well, I've heard good things about memory foam mattresses and mattress pads - apparently, it really protects your body while you are in bed and can do wonders for your quality of sleep (however, it's my understanding that memory foam is derived from late tax, so if you have a latex allergy, don't get one)

If your doctor doesn't have any tips for how to managing your pain at night, ask for a referral to a physiotherapist. In addition to being able to give you some exercises that may help your joints, a physiotherapist should be able to give you some tips on supported positions of your body at night.

Try sleeping witha a pillow between your knees, and one between your ankles...because if you cross yor ankles when you sleep, it strains the top hip.