Inability to sleep prompts most arthritis sufferers to seek treatment, researchers have found. A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study says sleep disruption even outweighs other arthritis concerns -- such as reduced mobility, not being able to visit family and friends as often and missing work or favorite recreational activities.
Dr. Joanne Jordan, one of the researchers, called the finding unexpected, but important, because few doctors or arthritis patients focus much on sleep loss. A rheumatism specialist, she says she knows doctors can give patients plenty of anti-inflammatory drugs for arthritis, but unless their sleep disruption is treated, symptoms might not improve.
Often, patients don't tell doctors about sleep loss because they think nothing can be done to treat it, she adds.
The study, reported in the February Archives of Family Medicine, looked at 937 Medicare beneficiaries ages 65 and older who answered questions about strategies they used for dealing with arthritis and how the illness affected them. Such strategies ranged from traditional doctor visits and trips to chiropractors to applying heat or over-the-counter medications.
About one-third of patients said arthritis kept them from sleeping, Jordan said. Two-thirds of the patients used over-the-counter medications; 63 percent visited physicians; 48 percent took prescription medications; almost 45 percent applied ointments or rubs; and 10 percent sought chiropractors.
The study also found 52 percent prayed for healing; 50 percent swam or exercised in other ways; 44 percent relied on heat, cold or massage; and more than 16 percent tried biofeedback, meditation or counseling.
