How to Go to Sleep When Pain is Keeping You Awake – 8 Natural Alternatives That Can Help
By David Pritchard, PhD and Jason Wooden, PhD
Regardless of the cause, insomnia is a huge problem nowadays affecting 1 in 3 adults in the US and up to 30 percent of people worldwide.
There are many reasons people sleep poorly – poor sleep habits, a bad sleep environment, stress, and sleep disorders such as sleep apnea.
However, one of the most frustrating sleep killers is nagging pain that just won’t go away.
Nighttime pain can make it harder to fall asleep and to stay asleep. It can also keep you out of the deep restorative REM sleep that’s needed to wake up feeling refreshed.
And if this happens night after night, you become chronically sleep deprived which makes life miserable. Your brain doesn’t work as well as you fight through a fog of fatigue throughout the day.
But wait, there’s more bad news…
Did you know that insomnia can actually make pain worse? It can lower your pain threshold and tolerance which results in an awful cycle – pain hurts sleep and sleep makes the pain hurt more.
So, those aches and pain can be really bad for sleep.
You’re not alone. Currently, 1 in 4 Americans suffer from overnight pain and as many as 80 percent of people with chronic pain have sleep issues. (Chronic pain is any pain that lasts for longer than 12 weeks).
While back pain is the most common type, many people suffer from headaches, joint pain from arthritis, and nerve pain from damaged nerves. Medical conditions like diabetes and cancer can also cause pain.
And unfortunately, stress can make your pain worse. The body’s stress response can trigger inflammation which results in the release of chemicals which make the nerves more sensitive.
So, how do I go to sleep when pain is keeping me awake?
Many of them are “drug free” and have been tested in studies.
1) Pain Meds
Prescription painkillers are powerful. They include opioids such as codeine, morphine, oxycodone, and Vicodin.
One thing you should keep in mind is that pain meds have serious downsides. Long-term use has been linked to many other health problems.
Also, opioids are highly addictive and over time you need increasingly higher amounts of the drug to get the same effect. It’s also becoming harder to get opioids due to recent crackdowns against their over prescription.
2) Medical procedures
3) Physical therapy
4) Massage
5) Psychotherapy
6) Music therapy
7) Exercise
8) Tai chi
9) Yoga
10) Meditation
Meditation can also calm the mind and the body. It helps reduce the stress response in the body responsible for the release of hormones that cause inflammation and pain.
Learn more:
How you can ease your pain with mediation (Cleveland Clinic)
Creating a space for mediation (TheBrecklife.com)
Since everyone’s situation is unique, be sure to talk with your doctor about what might work best for you as complement or alternative to any pain meds you’re currently using.
Summary: How to Go to Sleep if Pain is Keeping You Awake
2) Insomnia can make pain worse
3) There are many drug-free options that can help
4) Talk to a doctor or specialist to figure out which might work best for you
5) Don’t forget to practice good sleep hygiene so that other issues aren’t sabotaging your sleep
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