Have you ever felt like your pain (any pain) was worse when you did not sleep well? If so, there seems to be a reason for that. Researchers are finding connections between poor sleep and the pain experience.
How So?
Sleep is for the body to rest, reset, and recover. When a person does not sleep well, their body does not do those elements as well. Thus, during the time when the body is supposed to be healing itself, it is not doing so. Additionally, the lack of sleep has other metabolic and hormonal consequences which influence the pain experience. Remember there is no direct pain center in the brain, rather pain is an experience that is a manifestation of many factors. Together, these factors will be compounded day after day, creating a vicious cycle where a person can easily get stuck in pain.
Vicious Cycle? Yes…
When a person in pain does not sleep well (due to pain) this may enhance their daily pain. Associated with this chronic daily pain are often increases in cortisol (a stress hormone) levels. The increase in cortisol (one of many hormones responsible here) can be draining to a person. Now while you might think that feeling drained will help a person sleep, it does not always. In fact, feeling over-fatigued or over-tired can inhibit sleep. Think of that young baby or child who cannot sleep when they are over-tired.
So here we have a person in pain who is tired but cannot get good quality sleep.
Can you start to see the pattern emerging? The key, break the cycle. Easy to say, not necessarily easy to do. This is where professional help can be valuable. Working not only with someone like a muscle and joint specialist (a physical therapist) but also a psychologist who can offer strategies to relax and de-stress.
Chronic pain is draining for so many individuals, and the current healthcare system is failing them. It is time for a more holistic approach to sleep and overcoming pain.
Are you ready to sleep better and no longer live with chronic daily pain?
If so, then fill out this QUICK FORM to learn more.