Bed Pain Tips

By admin

There are few things as irritating as having to deal with pain at night when you are trying to sleep. The frustrations of trying to relax combined with not disturbing your partner or others who may hear you go to the medicine cabinet can make for an unpleasant night and morning as well.

In general, having night or “bed” pain is a serious issue. Most of us will generally experience less pain at night because the body shuts down many of the sensory inputs to allow us to sleep. Even those with arthritis generally feel less discomfort and even sudden bursts of pain that awaken them will soon go away, these periods of being awake for a very short time does not have a serious effect on getting enough sleep. It is common for many of us to believe we are sleep deprived and to a certain extent perhaps we are, but the body usually finds a way to make up for lost sleep at some point.

However, for those who suffer from pain strong enough to keep them awake, the complications can become serious. Insomnia can lead to another host of issues which can build upon each other and create a potentially serious situation if not treated quickly.

If your bed pain is cause by leg cramps, you can take calcium supplements, take a warm bath before bedtime and /or emphasize a walking exercise program during the day which can stretch out the muscles and actually relive the cramping, but you need to avoid exercising within two hours of going to bed.

If you do not suffer from leg cramps, but repeated bouts of bed pain from a known cause, there are methods beyond just taking pain medication that can help you fall asleep faster and wake up feeling less pain.

Get a Comfortable Bed: Seems pretty simple, doesn’t it? But getting a good night’s sleep is helped by getting a bed that’s firm enough to hold your body evenly while being soft enough to not create any painful pressure points. Using the right kind of pillows to help support your head and neck is also helpful. Although you don’t want to place a pillow under the knees as this can create stiffness in your hips or legs when you awaken in the morning.

Avoid Caffeinated Beverages: Another obvious tip, but you do want to avoid eating or drinking anything that might prevent you from falling asleep when your body is ready.

Go to Bed when you are Tired: Many of us might try to go to bed too early, thinking we’ll get more sleep. But it generally doesn’t work out that way. Our body will tell us when it’s ready for sleep. You just have to be aware of the signs, one of which will be your pain decreasing as your body shuts down the sensory inputs.

Avoid Drugs if you can: Sleeping pills and sedatives deliver the wrong type of sleep, are habit forming, and can cause depression. Taking pain medications at night interfere with the body’s ability to tell you something is seriously wrong. If you suffer from pain due to arthritis or another known cause, your body will adapt.

If you do not know what is causing bed pain at night, you need to see your doctor as soon as possible, as this might be a symptom of a more serious issue.

Guest Ranter: Tom Taome

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