Achieving Restful Sleep with Chronic Pain: Tips and Strategies

If you're having trouble getting a good night's sleep due to chronic pain you're definitely not alone. In fact, a lot of people with chronic pain have trouble sleeping. It can be a real catch-22 because pain can interrupt your sleep and then the lack of sleep can make the pain worse. But don't worry, there are some things you can try to help you sleep better.

First, let's talk about your sleeping habits. You might want to think about upgrading your mattress. A lot of people with back pain find that a mattress that's too firm or too soft can push your spine out of alignment (ouch). So, you might want to consider getting a new one before it gets too saggy. Another thing you can try is arranging your pillows differently. Depending on your sleep position, using a pillow in a different way can make a big difference. For example, if you sleep on your side, you might want to put a pillow between your knees to keep your hips even. Some people find that sleeping on the floor can help with pain too. If that's something you're interested in, you might want to try it out on a mat or sleeping bag and make sure to vacuum your carpet every day.

Another thing you can try is doing something else if you wake up frequently during the night. Unless counting sheep helps, you might want to try getting out of bed until you're drowsy again. You can fill the time with something boring like sorting laundry. And, you might want to avoid caffeine if you're prone to pain because it can lower your threshold even more. You might want to try tapering off gradually to see if it makes a difference.

Natural aids can also be helpful. There are a lot of expensive products that claim to help you sleep but don't have much scientific research to back them up. But, something like drinking chamomile tea or using lavender oil is safe for most adults. And, if you're having trouble sleeping 3 or more nights a week, you might want to talk to your doctor about medication.

Alrighty, now let's talk about your thinking habits. There are some psychological approaches that can make pain easier to live with and that can also help you sleep better. You might want to try thinking positively hard as it may be, taking deep breaths, using distractions to take your mind off your pain, focusing on the body parts that bother you. The last one is a kicker.

It's really important to remember that sleep remedies vary by individual and you might have to try a few different things before you find something that works for you which can be a pain (pun intended). But, it's worth it to keep experimenting with different methods and to talk to your doctor if you need more help.