Getting to sleep on a bad pain night

[red_arrow]

When your having a bad pain night what do you do/use to get to sleep? I have tried different teas, my pain killers, hot baths, hot water bottles, heating pads, ice packs, re-arranging pillows, adding pillows, taking some away (ditto for blankets) sleep meds, incense, candles, meditation and music. Do any of you have any other ideas? Any help is appreciated.

[Mollyrae]

Opioids can be a culprit in keeping you awake at night. They can do that to me. I have found that when changing my Patch every other morning, that evening my sleep will be broken up by 2-3 hr intervals. If I go 3 days without changing the Patch, I will sleep fairly well by that 3rd night. It is very possible that when you are in added pain and take the added meds for it, it will keep you up. It's a "catch 22".............
Take care,
Molly

[red_arrow]

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

Spright, I have done many forms of meditation. Breathing, visualization and I have pictured my pain as red with a blue light to push out my pain. I take opiods so I was told not to use anything like benadryl or nightquil. I'll try making the room cooler.. I know hotter won't help. and will even try your visual to see if that helps. I don't have nightmares all that much anymore. i did for the first 2 years after my accident. I do cover all lights as I'm light shy to begin with. I normally drape a sock over the clock. So thanks again.

Sandee1818, I'll also try the warm milk.

[sandee1818]

Benadryl is a good suggestion I just want to add that if your taking any prescribed meds make sure you ask your Dr or pharmacist before taking it.

[Spright1]

Hi Red_Arrow,

I can empathize. I seem to have a lot of those, specially lately.

Have you tried- Making it cooler in your house or room if you can tolorate cooler temps? Studies have found that most people sleep better in a cool room. Alternately, make it warmer- some find that warmth makes them drowsy.

Make sure that it is very dark when you turn out the lights. If you have bright shines from clocks and other electronic devices, it can disrupt sleep. Blinking lights from electronic devces can be distracting- you can just put some painters tape etc over them- I once used a post it note- everything seems to have lights on it these days!!!
I wear a digital watch to sleep with a button that lights up the face to check the time if I want to as opposed to a large bright digital clock which just reminds you of what time it is and that you aren't sleeping, while shining a bright light into the room.

A sleep mask may help if it doesn't irritate your pain more (I don't know what kind of pain you are having)

Don't do anything too stimulating around bedtime- being on the internet/watching TV etc  can take your mind off the pain, but it can also keep you from unwinding, leaving you in bed, in pain, with nothing to distract you, all wound up and unable to sleep.

Try reading or doing puzzles (crossword or whatever) etc, and just put it down as you get drowsy. have a lamp set up that you can easily turn off without 'waking yourself up too much'.

Don't worry about sleeping- if you wake up and find you Can't get right back to sleep, just read or something untill you feel drowsy again. If you worry about not sleeping, it's quite often harder to get back to sleep!

As Molly says, rest is rest, and sleep when you can. Getting into good sleep habits can help, but if you can't do so because of random bad pain flares, rest when you are able to.

Earplugs can help as well- or noise cancelation devices- even a fan running can make outside noises less of a distraction.

Breathing excersizes can help- concentrate on your breathing- in for a count, hold for a count, let the breath out for a count. It's another form of 'taking your mind off of things', and It works well sometimes.
Again, I don't know what kind of meditation you have done. If you give the breathing a chance, and have it down well, you can start another visualazation- one of my favorites back from when I was in high school was visualize yourself walking slowly down a set of deep stone stairs into a cavern, noticing all the details around you...counting the steps as you go deeper... ending up at a boat in an underground river with beautiful crystals and stone formations all around on the cavern walls, getting in and lying on your back feeling the river gently rocking you... still doing the counted breathing.... float through for a while and then out into the sunlight of a beautiful meadow full of flowers...  sometimes I would fall asleep just 'walking down the stairs'!!!  
*Now* sometimes I 'pretend' that I am in bed and just hit 'snooze' and have to get out of bed at dawn to go to school-  it takes me Right back to when I had to get up way too early to get to my school far away and just Longed to be able to sleep!
Hey, whatever works right?  lol

I'd add things like Benedryl, but I don't know what meds you are on and you said you tried sleep aids.

When you meditate, do you try visualisations of the pain as a color or whatever, and visualize it leaving through some way, or just meditate on relaxation itself?

I hope maybe something I said can help, or even spark someone else to add something that might. I know nothing I said is that amazing, but they have helped me, and hey, almost anything is worth trying- I know I have tried the things You said, and some have helped!!!

Is there a reason you may not 'want' to sleep, like pain dreams etc? Or is sleep a good escape for you?


Feel free to contact me in private if you wish!


I'm sure a lot of people will have something to add on this subject.


Blessings and best of luck!


~Spright

[sandee1818]

I know its an old tale that warm milk helps but if you do try the warm milk make your room as dark as possible and put on the most boring TV show you can find and if your like me you will drift off to dreamland:)

[red_arrow]

I have CRPS, CPS and PFPS. So basically my whole body. I do try to catch sleep during the day. Might have to just do that since at night its just not happening.
Thanks.

Red_Arrow

[Mollyrae]

I forgot to ask you, what is hurting you so bad? Have you sought a Doctors opinion for such pain.........

[Mollyrae]

Hello red_arrow, Gosh, I think you've covered them all. I guess if your able then try and get some rest during the day. I'm sure you have talked with your Doctor about this. I do know that there are some sedatives that will knock your socks off if you are severely sleep deprived, you would have to discuss this with your PCP.

I have had nights like that and the only remedy I have found is to get rest when you can.

Take care and good luck.    Molly