For many pain patients, their discomfort can spike at nighttime, making it hard or even impossible to get a good night’s sleep. To complicate pain care further, a good night’s rest is one of the most important parts of an effective pain management plan, as a lack of sleep can make pain symptoms more intense, creating a vicious cycle. At Macomb Pain Management, we understand the challenges pain patients face and are here to help you find answers to your common pain management questions, including why some patients’ pain worsens at night. Let’s take a closer look at pain that worsens before bed and possible treatment options to help you get a good night’s rest.
Why Does Pain Sometimes Get Worse at Night?
Pain can seem worse at night for a variety of reasons. For one, the perception of pain can increase at night when we have fewer distractions as we unwind and get ready for bed, compared to the busy days that can distract our minds from pain. Lying down in bed or in our sleeping position can also aggravate certain types of pain, particularly shoulder, back, and nerve pain. Finally, long periods of inactivity, like sleeping, can cause muscles and joints to become stiff, which can increase pain in certain joint and musculoskeletal conditions. Next, we’ll take a closer look at some of the conditions most commonly associated with nighttime pain.
What Chronic Pain-Causing Conditions are Associated With Nighttime Pain?
A variety of chronic pain-causing conditions are associated with an increased level of pain at night. These include:
- Arthritis and joint pain
- Nerve pain disorders
- Back and neck pain conditions
- Musculoskeletal disorders
For the majority of these types of pain, they all share increased pain symptoms when a patient is inactive for a longer period of time or when pressure from lying down in bed aggravates the injury. Thankfully, there are some ways you can manage increased pain levels at night, both on your own and with help from our team at Macomb Pain Management.
Tips for Managing Nighttime Pain on Your Own
If your pain isn’t too severe, you may be able to find some relief on your own using a variety of at-home remedies. Some patients find that using supportive pillows or experimenting with different sleeping positions provides them with noticeable pain relief. If your medical provider deems it appropriate, gentle stretching and mild exercises before bed can also help loosen your joints and ligaments, reducing stiffness. We also recommend that you note which positions aggravate your pain and which relieve it when lying down at night. If these at-home remedies don’t provide the pain relief you need for a good night’s rest, our pain management providers can recommend additional treatments.
Professional Help for Nighttime Pain
If your nighttime pain is too severe to allow you to get adequate rest, professional pain management treatment options may be needed. Depending on the root cause of your pain, these can include treatment options like:
- Physical therapy
- Pain management medications
- Targeted injections
- Interventional pain management treatments
Macomb Pain Management’s team of board-certified pain management doctors can provide you with all of your available treatment options to ensure you get the pain relief you need at night.
Find Professional Relief From Nighttime Pain at Macomb Pain Management
If you’re struggling to fall asleep at night from pain that’s keeping you awake, Macomb Pain Management is here to help. To get started exploring your nighttime pain relief options, give our team a call today at (248) 844-8281.
