Better Sleep With Chronic Pain
By Donna Stark
The three pillars of good health are diet, exercise, and sleep. In fact, you can probably pick up any health and wellness magazine and find an article that reminds you to eat well, exercise daily, and get the recommended amount of sleep. But how is being reminded to get the recommended amount of sleep helpful if chronic pain is the thing that is keeping you awake? Because no matter how many white noise machines you place in your room or how dark you make it, the pain is still going to be there, right?
Sleeping With Chronic Pain
In an ideal world, you should be waking up feeling completely rested and fully rejuvenated, but if you're suffering from chronic joint pain, your mornings are probably not like that at all. Chances are, they are filled with body aches, grumpiness, and extreme fatigue. And that's not the worst of it, because a bad night of sleep can also affect your productivity during the day, as well as increase your sensitivity to the pain that kept you up all night. It's a no-win situation, but there are some tricks for specific types of pain that may help. Take a look.
- Shoulder pain - Pain in the shoulder area can actually become worse at night due to your blood rushing to the area and the position your body is in. So try to sleep on the opposite side while hugging a pillow, put a pillow under the injured shoulder if laying on your back, or prop yourself up to relieve some of the pressure.
- Knee pain - If you suffer from arthritis of the knee, the chances of waking up during the night in pain are high. The best way to reduce some of the pressure and discomfort is to sleep on your side with a pillow between your legs.
- Wrist pain - Another pain issue that seems to get worse during the night is carpal tunnel syndrome. For this type of pain, you should prop your arm up with a pillow and sleep on your back or consider wearing a splint.
- Hip pain - Just like shoulder pain, you will want to avoid sleeping on the side that hurts. Keep a pillow between your legs too, as it may help to alleviate the pain.
- Back pain - The biggest culprit to restless nights is back pain and your mattress may very well be the problem. Choosing a firm mattress and sleeping on your side with your knees pulled up are two ways to improve those sleepless nights.
Find What Works
Obviously, what works for one person may not work for another, but if pain is keeping you awake at night, these tips may be worth a try. Another tip would be to go see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic because chiropractic care is the perfect choice for pain relief and improved sleep!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Killeen, Tex.