Every year, a common goal for many people is to try and get more quality sleep. However, if you’re one of the millions who deal with acute or chronic pain, getting a quality night’s sleep is no easy task. In addition to not being able to sleep well at night, the relationship between sleep and pain can be a vicious cycle.
Sleep and Pain
A common question is - Does pain make you tired? The quick answer is yes. When an individual is unable to sleep due to pain, they are susceptible to a variety of issues:
- Increased stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Weakened immune system
Unfortunately, all of these issues could inadvertently affect your ability to manage your body pain, which you become more sensitive to when you are low on rest.
Sleep and Body Pain
Today we will discuss the relationship between pain and sleep, as well as ways to help you sleep better at night if you suffer from body pain at night.
Acute Pain
Acute pain refers to temporary pain that generally lasts no longer than six months, and results from instances like broken bones, surgery, burns and more. Chronic pain is a type of pain that could last months, even years.
Chronic Pain
Chronic pain stems from instances such as previous surgeries, cancer treatments, arthritis, nerve damage and more. If acute pain is not treated properly, it could potentially lead to chronic pain.
How to Minimize Pain to Sleep Better
Whether you’re suffering from acute pain or chronic pain, there are a variety of solutions that don’t necessarily have to do with over-the-counter medicine or pain relievers.
Note: It’s important to note that if you’re frequently in pain, consult your doctor to explore your options to help with pain management.
Sleep Hygiene
First, let's go over what is sleep hygiene? Good sleep hygiene refers to regular habits and practices that allow you to sleep well on a regular basis.
This includes regulating your exposure to natural light, avoiding stimulants such as alcohol and coffee close to bedtime, turning off technology to reduce blue light, getting regular exercise and more.
It’s important to regulate your sleep hygiene habits as it helps to prevent the development of sleep problems and sleep disorders.
Read More: How Does Blue Light Affect Sleep?
Even if pain affects your ability to fall asleep, regularly practicing a healthy sleep routine could help you combat the negative ways in which pain affects your sleep.
Psychological Techniques
While some rely on altering sleep habits, others have decided to take a more psychological approach, essentially “mind over matter”. A few practices may find helpful include:
- Meditation
- Positive visualization
- Hypnosis
They could improve an individual’s outlook or help to compartmentalize worry, pain and overall stress.
Sleep Study: Psychological Techniques and Better Sleep
Hypnosis may help individuals associate certain actions with falling asleep. Again, it’s important to note that different tactics work for some more than others.
Note: Always speak with your doctor before trying something new or changing your regimen.
Improved Sleep Environment
In addition to creating healthy habits and taking unique measures to reduce night pain or simply help you fall asleep more easily, it’s also important to focus on your sleep environment.
Take time to evaluate the fabrics and products in your bedroom. Consider purchasing something like a neck pillow or support wedge to help you sleep more comfortably. Depending on your desired sleep temperature, consider things like the fabric of your pajamas, sheets and general room temperature.
If your chronic pain or illness results in the inability to regulate your body temperature, consider a product like our heating and cooling bed system, the Chilipad Dock Pro system and cooling bed pad. We also offer the Chilipad Cube, a cooling pad for your bed. These bed coolers have the ability to control sleep temperature from 55-115°F / 13-46°C. Customers are able to use these cooling mattress pads to create a more ideal sleeping environment, helping them gain quality sleep for longer periods of time.
Final Thoughts
If you’re suffering from chronic or acute pain, sleep disturbances, lack of sleep, consider solutions like these. As we mentioned, always consult with your doctor before seeking additional treatment or changing your routine.
However, just because you’re experiencing muscle pain, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be able to sleep deeper and get a good night’s sleep.
