One of the aspects of chronic pain that I still can’t get a real handle on is sleep. So many nights I laid in bed wide awake wondering why the pain seemed worse at night. Sometimes I can’t sleep at all, and other times I fall asleep, but wake up within a few minutes or hours with excruciating pain. Do you remember the old joke that goes: “A man goes to the doctor and says, ‘Doc, it hurts when I do this.’ The doctor looks at the guy and says, “Don’t do that.’”. Well, it’s kind of hard to stop doing something when you’re not doing anything! After a night of poor sleep, the day is like moving through molasses. My brain is even more foggy than usual and according to my daughter’s, that’s not good. I’ve scared my wife in the middle of going back and forth on IM while she’s at work; I’ve fallen asleep and she has no idea of what has happened to me.
When a person lacks sleep, the body has a hard time processing carbohydrates and glucose. It can effect weight, as lack of sleep inhibits human growth hormone. Without sleep, one has slower reaction times, memory problems, impaired judgment, as well as daytime sleepiness. Less than five hours of sleep/night can cause more stress, anger, and sadness. Insomnia can have the same effects on a person as being intoxicated, which doesn’t help when you’re taking enough pain medicine to make a crack addict jealous. Considering how much chronic pain patients have to deal with, adding any of these conditions to your repertoire is a bad thing. How about you? Have you battled insomnia at times? Do you notice an increase of issues when you’re not sleeping?
Have you tried melatonin? Maybe that would help you sleep at least a little. And your body produces it naturally,so it shouldn't be bad for you. Hoping you get more sleep soon. Blessings jane
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion Jane. Actually, this is the first post of many on sleep, and melatonin is one of the suggestions I will post later this week (you beat me to it!). I just know that even people who have a short term injury cab go through sleep interruption, and I know how bad it can effect them. I really appreciate you post, and your concern. God Bless, Tom
ReplyDeleteBefore they found the right meds and combos of said meds, the lack of sleep made me loopier than I ever care to be again. It is not pleasant how it affects you when you go for nearly a week with only an hour or less sleep a day. Now I am sometimes blessed with 6 or even 7 hours sleep but mostly 5 to 6 and I can function well enough on it. Jack is learning with his pain what lack of sleep is bless his heart.
ReplyDeleteMichelle, sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Please let Jack know my prayers are with him, I too know the loopiness of insomnia. Tomorrow's post will be about some ways of setting yourself up for a good night's sleep; I hope he finds something that helps, but I know it's not that easy. So, prayers are on their way up to our Lord, I pray the best for Jack. God bless.
ReplyDeleteFor my part, I do not result to sleep aid medication. I am all for natural foods or natural ways that helps aid sleep.
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