Joint Pain and Stiffness

Morning stiffness or pain of the joints is a fairly common symptom among lupus patients; usually remedied with a nice, hot shower to massage and ease the stiffness. For more severe joint pain, there are medications available to moderate the pain such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory(NSAIDS) and over-the-counter drugs.

A condition called arthralgia can easily be misdiagnosed as arthritis because both create a tenderness around the joints so it’s important to have your doctor examine you before taking steps to deal with your stiffness or pain. Certain steroidal medications can actually suppress your immune system worsening your lupus symptoms.