Dear Dr I am 71 years and suffer from recurrent neck pain, shoulder and general joint weakness across my body for which I take periodic medical therapy whenever things get acute. Now my problem is that I tend to get stiff when lying flat for sleep, my lower limbs, back and head get stiff and i feel screwed to the bed / floor. If I try to relax the lower limb muscles, I feel better but the stiffness in back and neck continues. When I try to relax my neck muscles (more by auto suggestion), the locus shifts to the back and the upper back gets discomfiture. So I usually recline on a ease-chair (sometimes even that aches the back, but mostly it is much better than lying flat). I think it may be linked to the tension and anxiety I often suffered in the past (nearly from youth, progressing in the middle ages.. but then I didn t have joint problems then to torment me in lying stage much) and the stiffness occurs while even sitting or standing in a place without any work (except when engaged in work). So I keep awake till I dose off in weariness and quickly shift to my bed, only to be waken by a dream or urge to pass water in the night. The meditation and breathing exercises (yoga related) donot seem to work as I could not control my breath in the proportion etc. I have acid stomach, TMT positive (urged to avoid stressful work), benign prostate enlargement etc that follow my age. Forgetfulness, progressive loss of hearing etc are additional companions. I am not obese and not diabetic (I test six monthly since there is family history of d melitus) or hypertense, though I have fast pulse (80-90) after long walk, work etc that falls gradually. Now kindly try your options for a probable reduction of my multiple stress factors - may be with less meds. Thank you.