Tips for Sleeping with Chronic Pain

Chronic pain, whether originating in the spine, muscles, joints, or nerves, can make it nearly impossible to sleep well.

Dr. John S. Michels is an award-winning pain management specialist serving Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, and surrounding areas. He offers highly effective, nonsurgical solutions for acute and chronic pain that address discomfort at its source.

He’s also committed to personalizing treatment strategies designed to meet your needs while restoring pain-free health and mobility.

Read more from Dr. Michels’ team at ISP Health PLLC regarding the benefits of restful sleep, especially when dealing with chronic pain, and tips for getting the rest you need.

Understanding the link between chronic pain and sleep

Research shows that chronic pain and sleep are closely intertwined, with each often influencing the other.

For instance, chronic pain can have a significant impact on sleep, causing:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Frequent awakenings
• Reduced sleep quality with less time in restorative sleep stages
• Increased sleep latency (the time it takes to transition from wakefulness to sleep)

These all interfere with your ability to obtain 7-8 hours of restful sleep nightly, during which your body performs vital functions such as tissue regeneration and repair.

But poor sleep can also negatively affect chronic pain, leading to:

Increased pain sensitivity

Poor sleep can heighten pain sensitivity, making chronic pain symptoms feel more severe.

Lower pain threshold

Lack of sleep can lower your pain threshold, meaning less intense stimuli are perceived as painful.

Decreased mood

Poor sleep can negatively affect mood, leading to irritability, anxiety, and depression, which can exacerbate pain.

Inflammation

Inflammation is a leading pain trigger, and poor sleep can increase inflammation levels in the body. This can potentially worsen chronic pain conditions, especially inflammatory conditions like arthritis.

Chronic pain and poor sleep can create a vicious cycle: Pain disrupts sleep, and lack of sleep worsens pain.

Managing chronic pain and sleep

Dr. Michels offers effective pain management for a wide variety of underlying chronic pain disorders, including:

• Osteoarthritis
• Joint pain
• Headaches
• Nerve pain
• Neck pain
• Back pain

Comprehensive treatment strategies may include over the counter pain medications, physical therapy, nerve blocks, or other minimally invasive treatments that can help improve sleep as they manage pain.

Tips for improving sleep

Dr. Michels also advocates good sleep hygiene practices, such as:

• Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule
• Creating a comfortable sleep environment that is dark, quiet, and cool
• Avoiding stimulants, including vigorous exercise, alcohol, and caffeine before bedtime
• Limiting daytime naps
• Developing a relaxing bedtime routine (e.g., meditation or gentle yoga stretches)
• Limiting screen time before bed

It’s also vital to address pain issues before you head to bed. 

If you’re struggling with chronic pain and lack of sleep, schedule a visit with Dr. Michels today. Call our office or request an appointment online.