(248) 844-8281

Appointment Request

The Role of Sleep in Chronic Pain Management

For the average person, eight hours of sleep is recommended each night to wake up rested and perform at your best. Sleep is crucial for all aspects of your health, and a lack of rest can quickly cause your physical and mental health to deteriorate rapidly. While everyone knows the importance of a good night’s sleep, chronic pain patients often find themselves in a vicious cycle of struggling to fall asleep due to pain, which in turn further increases their discomfort. At Macomb Pain Management, we strive to provide all our patients with the tools and information they need to manage chronic pain, including tips on getting enough sleep as a chronic pain patient. Let’s explore the relationship between chronic pain and sleep and ways to improve your sleep as an individual dealing with significant pain on a regular basis.

Negative Health Benefits of Poor Sleep

Chronic pain patients often struggle to fall asleep at night from pain and become trapped in a cycle of pain and lack of sleep that, in turn, increases their pain. There have been several studies done that conclude that sleep deprivation can lead to hyperalgesia, a condition that causes the body to be more sensitive to pain. Sleep deprivation further increases pain by:

  • Amplifying pain response in the brain
  • Elevating levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines
  • Increasing stress, anxiety, and depression

While it can be challenging to break the cycle of restless nights with chronic pain, there are steps that you can take on your own and with the help of medical professionals to both improve your quality of sleep and decrease your pain levels.

Improving Your Sleep Quality

Getting a good night’s sleep while dealing with chronic pain can be tricky, but there are ways you can improve your sleep quality at home and with the help of medical professionals. You can improve your sleep quality at home by taking the following steps:

Invest in a Quality Bed and Mattress: A comfortable bed and mattress that provides the right amount of support for your chronic pain condition can provide a comfortable sleeping environment. There are a variety of adjustable beds available that can provide increased support depending on your needs and preferences.

Find a Comfortable Sleep Position: Experiment with different sleep positions to find the most comfortable position for your chronic pain condition. Patients with lower back pain, for example, might find that sleeping with a pillow between their legs and on their side can decrease strain and pain in the lower back.

Create a Comfortable Sleep Environment: Before lying down for the night, make sure your bedroom is dark, quiet, and cool. The ideal sleeping temperature for most people is between 62 and 67 degrees, which can help you fall asleep faster. Fans are another great option and have the added benefit of creating gentle white noise to fall asleep to.

If you are still struggling to fall asleep at night after taking steps on your own, medical professionals can help.

Medical Interventions and Tools to Improve Sleep

If you are still struggling to fall asleep on your own, various medical treatments and medications can help you fall asleep. Consulting with a pain management doctor and sleep specialists can help. At Macomb Pain Management, we frequently work with patients dealing with poor sleep caused by chronic pain, and we have several research and science-based treatments available to reduce chronic pain and make it easier for you to fall asleep at night. Besides getting treated for your pain, other tools available to improve sleep include:

  • Prescription sleep medications
  • Over-the-counter sleep aids
  • Light therapy
  • Sleep studies

By controlling your pain levels and getting quality sleep, you can reap both benefits as they compound to improve your quality of life to the fullest.

Contact Macomb Pain Management Today For Help Improving Your Sleep And Reducing Your Pain

If chronic pain keeps you from getting enough sleep, Macomb Pain Management can help with our research and science-based approaches to modern pain management. Contact us today at (248) 844-8281 for a better night’s sleep and less pain tomorrow.