24/10/2025
A middle-aged woman walked into the clinic, complaining of persistent knee pain that had been troubling her for the past six months. During the assessment, I gently asked her how long she had been suffering from it. She softly replied, “It started six months back.” I continued, “How has your sleep been during this time?” She quickly said, “I sleep well, doctor.”
But at that moment, her husband interrupted, his voice heavy with emotion, “Doctor, she’s not telling the truth. She hasn’t slept properly since our son died in a road accident six months ago.”
That single sentence explained everything her body was silently carrying. Her eyes welled up, and the truth behind her pain slowly unfolded. It wasn’t just her knees hurting — it was her heart that had been broken. The grief of losing her only son had seeped deep into her mind and body.
I explained to them gently that sleeplessness isn’t just about rest -it affects the whole body. When we don’t sleep properly, our body releases inflammatory cells called cytokines, which can increase pain sensitivity and worsen joint pain. So even though her X-rays and reports might only show mild arthritis, the emotional pain and lack of proper sleep were amplifying her suffering.
This story is not just about one mother — it’s about many people silently fighting emotional battles that show up as physical pain. If you or someone you know is experiencing similar pain, don’t just look for medicine first. Try to sleep well, try to make peace with your thoughts, and slowly release the past. Sometimes, healing begins not from a pill, but from a peaceful night’s rest and a forgiving heart
