Insomniacs: Like Zombies, Only Sleepier
By Debra Rodzinak
I have suffered with insomnia for years. Sometimes I will go two full days without being able to sleep. At the 24-hour mark, I start to get very foggy, but by the time I get to 36 or 48 hours without sleep, I am like the walking dead—a zombie. I shuffle my feet, bump into things, and utter only grunts or groans when asked a question. For those suffering with chronic back pain, insomnia can be a real issue.
Steps to Improve Sleep
When dealing with chronic pain of the lower back, bedtime can be either sweet slumber or a nightmare. If every toss and turn sends shooting pain down your back or legs, it may be nearly impossible to find several hours of uninterrupted sleep that the body so desperately needs. Some ways to improve sleep include:
- Finding a mattress that supports the back – This can be very important to sleep. If the lower back is not supported, the discs can become misaligned causing the vertebrae to slip out of place.
- Get tested for sleep apnea – If a person stops breathing for several seconds at a time, the brain will wake the person up from sleep in order to start the body breathing again.
- Restless leg syndrome – Uncomfortable feelings in the legs can cause a person to want to move them back and forth. When this happens, falling or staying asleep can become difficult. Talking with your physician about this problem can lead to helpful solutions.
- Chiropractic treatments – If the spine is out of alignment, the nerves of the back can become trapped or inflamed. When the back is in certain positions, pain can become more severe. Proper alignment of the spine aids in a decrease of back pain which, in turn, gives patients more restorative sleep.
Chiropractic Solutions
It stands to reason that if you suffer with back pain and can’t sleep, that if the back pain is eliminated, you will be able to sleep better and more soundly.
If you currently suffer with lower back pain and are having trouble sleeping, try a drug free solution—chiropractic. With a chiropractic treatment at The Joint, our expert doctors may have you sleeping like a baby in no time—without drugs or surgery.
With over 350 locations nationwide, there is sure to be a location near you. With no pesky insurance forms to fill out or appointment times to remember, drop by The Joint for your path to restful sleep.