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Posted 11/4/2008 3:10 PM (GMT 0)
Was wondering how i can get proper sleep routine. Other than cutting out caffeine, try not to nap during the day etc, my sleep has been disrupted for a long time possibly a year or more, waking 2-4 times a night or waking once and not being able to go back to sleep, mostly caused by my back pain. I am going to be attending a pain clinic soon and possibly getting injections will i recieve help from the pain clinic about my sleep problem, or does anyone have any good recommentions less knocking myself out. LOL anyway will keep in touch Twiggy2
Posted 11/4/2008 3:30 PM (GMT 0)
I know what you mean about sleep. It is something that evades me on a regular basis. Nothing knocks me out. I have tried 6 different sleeping pills and none have worked. Right now I just wait till I fall asleep from pure exhaustion.

Some things that used to work for me are
Hot shower before bed
Drink some herbal sleepy time tea (be careful what herbs because some can interact with meds)
Not going to my room until I am falling asleep on the couch
Getting up if I don't fall asleep in 30 mins.

Good luck with the sleep thing and please talk to your doc about this. Not sleeping can and will do strange things to ones mind!
Posted 11/4/2008 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
I take ambien and elavil for my sleep problems . Other ideas is exercise ,hot baths and no caffeine . Also sleepy time tea helps some people to relax them. I would talk to your dr about your sleep problems. I was up for 12 days when my insomnia first started and it messed with my mind big time. So I urge you to tell your dr. about this. He can prescribe you something to help you sleep.
Posted 11/4/2008 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
If what's waking you is your pain, then your night time pain needs treated rather than just a sleeping pills. Discuss this with your doctor. For example, I take 5-10mg of valium at night just to keep my muscles from tensing up so I can sleep through at least most of the night. Without it I wake up from muscle spasms. But I don't take it during the day as it makes me too groggy.

I take this in addition to my regulat pain meds. Again, talk with the pain management specialist this week.

PaLady
Posted 11/4/2008 6:03 PM (GMT 0)
I agree that your pain issues should be addressed with your doctor... If you are going to be going to a pain clinic, the doctor should be able to get a good combo of drugs that are suitable to address your pain. They may also do injections to try to address your pain. Each PM doc is different and treats you differently. My PM doc has me on pain medication, nerve pain medicine, anti-depressant, anti-anxiety medicine, and TWO sleep medications. Getting good rest is important to your ability to confront your pain. If you are tired and not sleeping, your emotions are raw and your pain threshold changes AND your body isn't able to repair itself. The two medications that I take for sleep each night is Rozerem and Ambien CR. I have to take BOTH of them together to be able to go to sleep. If I only take one, it doesn't help AT ALL! I still wake in the night, due to pain, but I'm usually able to fall back to sleep.
Good luck with your upcoming PM appt AND with getting some sleep!
Posted 11/4/2008 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
I've accepted the waking-in-the-night problem. I think I wake up because my
muscles get tensed when I stay in one position too long. I get up and come to
the computer for 15 minutes. After that, I usually go back to sleep. I take
plenty of prescribed medicine to help me sleep through the night but nothing works.
Pamela
Posted 11/4/2008 9:50 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks i also wake from weird drems too. But the pain is the main issue. Then i nap in the afternoon cause i get tired and find that i don;t have as many weird dreams as i do at night. And like most people i know that pain is usually worse at night. I haven;t heard anything yet as to when i am going to get into see Pain Clinic but i hope it is soon. Also to i have been getting mild headaches maybe from back or stress lack of sleep ??? anyway i will have to make sure that i disclose all information to the PM doc so i can obtain the proper treatment.
Posted 11/4/2008 11:27 PM (GMT 0)
I have suffered from insomnia since I was a child. I have tried a lot of different things..... old wives tales, OTC, RX, massage, food, reading books, subliminal radio, no tv, alcohol...... just anything to get some rest! Most of my meds have a "drowsy" affect but I also take Restoril. The generic is pretty cheap & in my opinion works better than Rozerm & Paxil (they just gave me a headache). I get mine from my pain clinic. They also prescribe Amitryptiline & Cymbalta which has a triple effect, not only does it help with depression- it also helps with pain (mine is from my back & fibromalgia) & it also helps with sleep. So you might have several options to look into! Ask for samples, those kind of meds they usually have samples. So yes, abosolutly your pain clinic should be able to help you get some sleep. Even a little is a huge improvement- I KNOW!! :) I also drink a little glass of warm skim milk before bed. I read somewhere that milk has protein to keep you full through night. Plus, warm milk is a comfort food I think. I love warm chocolate milk with cool whip...... the chocolate usually has caffeine in it though so 86 the chocolate. (but its sooo good!) Maybe these suggestions will help you some! ((Hugs))
Posted 11/5/2008 8:02 PM (GMT 0)
I tried warm milk it didnt work for me but it may work for you . Some others over the counter natural methods are valerian root and melatonin. You just have to find what works best for you . Ambien and elavil is what works best for me . I would still consult with your doctor to find out what they suggest for you.
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