How Sleep Can Help Address Chronic Pain

Chronic pain affects millions of Americans. Conventional sources of chronic pain include degenerative bone diseases, like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, an accident-related injury, or nervous system disorders. Whatever the reason for your symptoms of chronic pain, they’re probably keeping you up at night and preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep.

Tossing and turning as you try to find a comfortable sleeping position may take hours out of your sleep time. Individuals with severe chronic pain may experience bouts of insomnia that ruin their mental and physical state of well-being the following day. But it is important to try and get a good night’s sleep with chronic pain.

However, those individuals that do manage to achieve a good night’s sleep notice a reduction in their pain symptoms. As we sleep, our body clears toxins and free radicals from our bloodstream and neurological system. A reduction in these particles allows the body to regenerate cells and repair the physiological and neurological damage that is the cause of chronic pain.

The Sleep-Pain Relationship

Sleep is a complex and critical biological process with very little scientific research on the subject. Over the last decade, researchers conducted multiple studies into different areas of sleep and how it affects our physical and mental well-being.

Studies show that sleep is critical for clearing neural pathways of toxins accumulated during the daylight hours. Individuals that achieve 8-hours of sleep every night experience fewer pain symptoms.

Receiving adequate sleep assists every biological system. It helps the body generate new cells and improves cell communication. This fact is important to note for anyone living with the symptoms of chronic pain. Therefore, if you want to reduce pain symptoms, it’s vital that you receive enough rest.

Sleep Hygiene – Why it Matters

Falling asleep with back pain or hip pain is a tremendously challenging task. However, there are steps you can take to improve your ability to fall asleep. Stretching before bed and taking a hot bath are a few examples of sleep hygiene that reduce the time it takes for your mind and body to achieve a relaxed state and drift off to sleep.

Avoid Stimulants

If you enjoy a cup of coffee, limit your intake to the mornings. Avoid all stimulants during the afternoon and evening. Energy drinks are terrible for your health, and they affect your body’s ability to fall asleep. Drink herbal tea or water in the afternoon and avoid sugary foods that elevate your blood sugar.

Stretch Before Bed

Stretch in the hour before retiring to bed. If you experience muscular or skeletal pain, stretch these areas until you feel supple and relaxed. Stretching relieves stress from the skeletal and muscular system while clearing anxiety. Focus on your breathing and connecting your mind with your muscular and skeletal system while you stretch.

Bathing with Epsom Salts

Run a hot bath after your stretching session. Add a tablespoon of Epsom salts to the water and relax in the tub for 10 to 20-minutes. Your skin will absorb the magnesium in the water from the Epsom salts. Magnesium helps with cell communication and new cell generation. It provides relief to the nervous system and helps calm your mind. Pour a cup of chamomile tea before you get into the bath and sip on it as you relax.

Meditate

Meditate for a few minutes after your bath. Close your eyes and empty your mind of all thoughts. Focus on the darkness and breathe deeply. Meditation helps your brainwaves slow their frequency and reduces the time it takes to fall asleep.

Use a Sleep Mask

A sleep mask is a useful aid to block out all light and ensure the efficiency of your circadian rhythm. If you experience poor sleep the night before, you can use a sleep mask for taking naps during the day. While napping isn’t the best strategy, it’s sometimes necessary. Getting ample amounts of sleep should be included in your pain management plan.

The Final Thought – Consider Sleep Aids

Over-the-counter and pharmaceutical sleep aids may help you fall asleep faster. Speak to your physician about which sleeping aids will be beneficial to your unique situation. Sleep aids can be addictive or habit-forming so use them with caution. If OTC sleep aids aren’t helping, speak to your doctor because there are alternative treatments available.

Have you ever had problems sleeping when dealing with chronic pain? Do you have any additional pointers to help other chronic pain patients get their sleep in order to manage their chronic pain?