Re:Is there any tactic if can't sleep from pain day and night?

[Guest guest]

I read the newsletter from the Pain Community tonight and they discussed

findings that chronic pain created changes in the brain (the frontal cortex)

which affected mood and sleep. So it may not just be the actual pain alone, but

in concert with actual neuronal activity which leads to poor sleep from the

central nervouse system. I am glad to provide the source of the research if

anyone is interested.

Enid

[Guest guest]

> Is there any tactic if can't sleep from pain day and night?

Hi Enid,

Yes I am very interested in that subject. I am up 24/7 and if I get

lucky I'll get an hour or 2 a couple of days a week. I honestly thought I'd

never have to be forced to try sleeping pills.

My primary care physician told me no pills were worth taking and that I'd just

have to wait till the pain went away and then I'd get sleep. All I kept thinking

was 5 years already " waiting " and the no sleep was no good.

My pain management doctor put me on ambien twice and then Rozerem. I tried it

almost a year ago and eventually seemed to work alittle. I was getting 10-12

hours of sleep per week, but that meant I was still up 24 hours with no sleep at

least 3 days of the week.The Rozerem was supposed to put me into a " pattern ' of

sleep and I stopped after 2 or 3 months since I figured that was the best I

could get.

I just started Melatonin and hope that it will work. It's been about 10 days.

I got no sleep about 3 days and a couple of hours of sleep 3 other nites one

nite last week I got 6 straight hours. Unfortunately, I've been up continually

the last 4 days.

It's almost 6:30 am and I know I'm gonna pass out any minute now. I wish the

doctor had told me about it sooner because I really don't like taking any

medication. Thank you for the information. Hope everyone is doing well and

enjoys the Holidays.

Patti/NY

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately after 7 months of barely sleeping and trying all the

things you listed below along with others. I graduated to Trazadone,

but it takes 50 MG plus two Valium to knock me out.

Most mornings I can't balance for a couple hours so the cane proves useful...but

I have to work full time in accounting so sleep is a necessity. Once I get

physical, emotional and mental in balance I try to cut back and can make it

great for two or three days before I am back on the full dose...and that

sometimes won't work either.

Cyrilla in OK

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> > Is there any tactic if can't sleep from pain day and night?

>

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[Guest guest]

--- p l wrote:

> I am up 24/7 and if I get

> lucky I'll get an hour or 2 a couple of days a week. I honestly

thought I'd never have to be forced to try sleeping pills.

>

Hi Patti -

This is a long shot, but it could be your actual pain medications

that are causing this. It might be worth talking to your pain doctor

about switching you to a different opiate for a month (you just

switch to an equivalent dose and your body won't know the difference -

no big deal) to see if it makes a difference in your sleeping.

Here's why I suggest this. I've been on just about every opiate at

one point or another. And if I take hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco,

etc), I am wide awake and can't sleep for any reason. I could be up

for days. Doesn't matter how long I'm on it - that's one " side

effect " that never goes away for me.

However, it is the ONLY opiate that does that to me. I sleep just

fine on any other opiate or opiod.

Everyone reacts differently to opiates. Some people they put to

sleep, some people they keep awake. Some opiates have effects on one

person, while others have no effect on the same person.

If you have been on the same med the entire time you've been having

problems sleeping, it would be worth trying a switch to see if it

makes any difference.

Cheryl in AZ

Moderator

[Guest guest]

i agree, i try not to take hydrocodone before i plan to sleep. they

tend to keep me from falling asleep, i only sleep 4-5 hous a time and

i work 12 hour shifts. maybe that helps me sleep. i just woke up

from a 16 hour sleep and can't move at all 4-5 hours i'm good anymore

sleep/bedtime. i get locked down and cant move at all less sleep is

better for me.