Will I ever sleep ?

[Agggony]

   1998 while kneeling under a 1,300lb Hy-Way salter we were moving, a lifting lug snapped and it Dropped from 4ft on to my head  & neck, I was pinned to the floor, folded in 2 with my head between my knees  in a space only 15in high thus herniating 2 discs @ C-5-6 & C6-7 and fracturing the C-6 + 7  and T-7 vertebra. MRI also showed advanced stages degenerative disc disease in my cervical spine to match the multiple levels of degenerated discs in my lumbar spine discovered some 3 yrs prior. The fusion healed but the pain continued and after 2 car accidents in the past 3 yrs both times being rear ended, the last Cat Scan showed that one of the screws in my neck had been snapped but was not in danger of moving,also it showed a stenosis that is encroaching on my spinal cord as well as the vertebra above and below the fusion had shifted out of alignment both making contact with the spinal cord and nerve roots. Also the discs above and below the fusion have degenerated and crystallized over the past 10 yrs since the fusion. I have had to sleep in a reclined sitting position with my Knees bent and my head packed in pillows to immobilize it . I wake after 10 min.s to an hr. to the sound of myself Screaming in pain!! Because of the nerve pain shooting down my arms etc.I am unable to turn my head and sitting up is not even an option.Often one or both of my arms  which I always have folded over my chest are completely numb making it very hard to feel around for the controller for my hosp. bed which was the alternative to waking my wife 2-3 or more times a night to sit me up. I have taken to the couch so as not to disturb my wife with my cries of pain. I have nights that I sit with pillows piled in my lap and cry like a child because the nerve pain wont let up!I have developed a very high tolerance for pain, and I have NOT become ultra sensitive from my years on pain meds,this has been proven. I have tried EVERYTHING to find a position that will allow me to sleep. Sleeping pills only make me groggy when I wake and cause me to fall asleep in dangerouse positions. I have not slept more the 3 hrs in well over a year. By the time I wake for the 3rd or 4th time, I just sit up and watch TV until I can move /walk then I stretch & do my exorcises.
     I have seen many surgeons who have all told me the same thing, In ref. to my Neck, They say that I have 50/50 chance they will only make things worse and no guarantee my pain will improve, as to my lumbar with 4 levels degenerated/crystallized I'm told that "They don't have much luck fusing more the 2 levels" and again they are afraid my pain will not improve. 2 Dr.s felt that my vertebra were too brittle to receive hardware running the risk of cracking under my 167 lb body weight. I am taking massive doses of  time release morphine and Oxy I-R for the break through. The meds are helping as I tried reducing my day time does and found that to be a mistake. I need to SLEEP! ANY advise would be greatly appreciated!

[diz1211]

Hello there!!  I read your post and I cant even begin to compare pain or insomnia to you... I think  aheart had some gret ideas..as she said you will have to experiment with the foam and hopefully it will give the support you need so if you can fall asleep you wont awake in a crazy painful position. I have had some trouble with different pain meds interfering with sleep...have you tried trazadone? Maybe when you get a good position it might be an option.
I will pray you can find that position and comfort..hang in there, and good luck

[aheart]

Your welcome