Regardless of whether you have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or gout, you may notice that it seems like your knees tend to ache the most the minute you jump into bed.
If you want to know the reason behind this phenomenon, keep reading – below you will find some of the most common causes of nocturnal knee pain.
Also, below you will find some of the most effective home remedies for knee pain at night that can help you get the much needed 7 to 9 hours of uninterrupted and rejuvenating sleep.
Let’s first check out some of the common causes of knee pain at night:
Absence of distractions
During the day, your mind gets busy with all sorts of things. On the other hand, when the sun goes down, there are not a lot of activities and tasks available for you to dabble in.
This is precisely why you are very likely to notice your knee pain – the more you focus on it, the more intense the pain seems.
Stress and fatigue
Especially after a stressful day, levels of stress hormones rise in the bloodstream. Several scientific investigations show that pain perception tends to increase when there are too many stress hormones.
Health authorities recommend that those suffering from knee pain should engage in adequate physical activity. However, it is a completely different story if too much physical activity is done as it can exacerbate symptoms.
Decreased physical activity
As the day winds down, you are very likely to engage in less and less physical activities. The moment you hit the hay, your knee joint doesn’t move much or not at all while you wait to hit dreamland.
Because of the lack of movement, there is a possibility of your knees becoming stiff – trying to move them can cause you to experience some discomfort or pain.
Decreased breathing rate
Doing too little or no physical activity can cause your breathing rate to drop, and this is something that can lead to a buildup of carbon dioxide in your bloodstream.
According to scientists, having more carbon dioxide than oxygen in the body can cause blood vessels to dilate or widen, and this can increase pressure in the knee. Needless to say, this can lead to an intensification of pain.
Now let’s check out some of the best home remedies for knee pain at night:
to lift
The goal is to reduce circulation to the knees to reduce swelling, stiffness, and pain. This can be done by placing your feet on two pillows to raise your knees above heart level.
Warm or cold compress
Nothing can eliminate pain and stiffness more effectively than applying a warm compress to the affected knee. If you notice some swelling, it is best to opt for a cold compress as heat can aggravate inflammation.
Relaxing bath
Especially if you’re feeling stressed, it’s a good idea to take a soothing bath before hitting the sack in order to lower your stress levels.
Guided meditation
One of the best ways to significantly lower your stress levels is meditation. If you are someone new to the world of meditation or you tend to get distracted easily, consider practicing a guided meditation in which an expert will teach you the steps to take.
Turmeric tea
Experts say there are several reasons why a good cup of turmeric tea at night might be good. First, it can help reduce knee pain because it is full of anti-inflammatory compounds. Second, turmeric tea can help promote a good night’s sleep.