Insomnia and Chronic Pain
Someone recently contacted me to ask about how she can get involved in a sleep study to help with her insomnia and chronic pain. I thought I would share our Q&A with everyone in case others are going through the same thing:
Q: How does one go about becoming a part of a sleep study? As a chronic pain sufferer, insomnia has plagued my life for the past 7 years. I would be very interested in your reply and I have ordered your book. I look forward to yet another approach, perhaps this will aid me!
A: First of all I want to thank you for your post. Chronic pain is an area that I have had some experience with in my clinical practice, and it is an exceptionally difficult area for sleep.
About 35-40% of those with pain issues actually have different brain waves associated with deep sleep than people without pain. The difference is that their deep sleep is lighter than others. It is called alpha delta sleep. This means more arousals, lighter sleep, and more difficulty staying asleep, for some.
Medications can be both helpful and harmful to sleep (both sleep meds and pain meds) and should be reviewed by your doctor. We have had luck with some insomnia meds (Ambien CR, klonipin, and I think Rozerem would work but I have no experience with it) but the program in my book, especially the 28 night program, should be an excellent adjunct to any formal diagnostic sleep study and therapy.
In addition you should know that many folks with pain also have an underlying sleep disorder and when we fix that the pain GETS BETTER!!!! Of course we cannot promise this, but it has happened on numerous occasions.
If you are looking to get a sleep study, based on pure insomnia most clinicians are not going to be favorable about this because insomniacs do not sleep, much less in a lab with 27 wires attached to their heads!
I would say for sure you should contact a sleep specialist (someone who is board certified in sleep medicine -- I can help you find one if you need me to) and see where they want to help.
If you feel that there are other sufferers here please bring them into the conversation as well.
Dr. Mike PhD
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: sleep, chronic pain, Sleep Doctor
Q: How does one go about becoming a part of a sleep study? As a chronic pain sufferer, insomnia has plagued my life for the past 7 years. I would be very interested in your reply and I have ordered your book. I look forward to yet another approach, perhaps this will aid me!
A: First of all I want to thank you for your post. Chronic pain is an area that I have had some experience with in my clinical practice, and it is an exceptionally difficult area for sleep.
About 35-40% of those with pain issues actually have different brain waves associated with deep sleep than people without pain. The difference is that their deep sleep is lighter than others. It is called alpha delta sleep. This means more arousals, lighter sleep, and more difficulty staying asleep, for some.
Medications can be both helpful and harmful to sleep (both sleep meds and pain meds) and should be reviewed by your doctor. We have had luck with some insomnia meds (Ambien CR, klonipin, and I think Rozerem would work but I have no experience with it) but the program in my book, especially the 28 night program, should be an excellent adjunct to any formal diagnostic sleep study and therapy.
In addition you should know that many folks with pain also have an underlying sleep disorder and when we fix that the pain GETS BETTER!!!! Of course we cannot promise this, but it has happened on numerous occasions.
If you are looking to get a sleep study, based on pure insomnia most clinicians are not going to be favorable about this because insomniacs do not sleep, much less in a lab with 27 wires attached to their heads!
I would say for sure you should contact a sleep specialist (someone who is board certified in sleep medicine -- I can help you find one if you need me to) and see where they want to help.
If you feel that there are other sufferers here please bring them into the conversation as well.
Dr. Mike PhD
Related Topics:
Technorati Tags: sleep, chronic pain, Sleep Doctor
58 Comments:
Hi I have had a chronic pain for several years and I find that a small dose of amytryptaline at night works pretty well to reduce the pain and help me sleep. Also this program has helped.
www.sleep-sound.com/sleep.html
I have been using a CPAP machine for approximately 6 years and it made a tremendous difference in my life however recently ( for the last 4 to 6 weeks) I have been unable to sleep with it. I am averaging maybe 2 to 3 hours of sleep a night. I can go to sleep but wake up an hour or 2 later and am unable to get back to sleep. I have tried roserem recently but it worked ok at first but lately it is not helping at all. Any ideas?
Hi I have had chronic pain in my neck,mid back,and arms for 11 yrs. I have had c5&c6 fused together in June 2006 and c6&7 could be next. One concern is c7 has a vascular tumor. On top of that I have Major Depression. My Dr. has tried me on Ambien C/R and on just Ambien Ive been unable to sleep with ether med. The next day I get bad side effects. I use Lorazepam 2mg. and Darvaset Neroton .I get about 3hrs. sleep if I'm lucky then I got to reload again. It's getting harder to deal with as each year goes by. Any help would be appreciated.
My MD. has me take %) ~ !)) mgs> Seraquel at bedtime. It is used at very much higher does for other disorders (PSYCHOLOGICAL) but at lower doeses it makes for a nice nights sleep
Don't know why my 1/3/07 8:44 SUGGESTION DID NOT PRINT DOSAGE ~ SO HERE IT IS AGAIN 50 ~ 100 mg at night as needed. (Twentyfive ~ one hundred mgs) If this site will not print dosages< your MD. should know.
If someone can help me, I need it. I have chronic pain due to TMJ. I'm past 11 operations at this point. Amytriptaline, Seraquel, Temazapan (any of the "pans"), Lunesta ETC... DO NOT WORK! Ambien at 20mg may get me 3 hours, if I do not sleep walk, and insurance won't pay for that much a month anyway. My last sleep study gave me a PTSD diagnosis and I think that is only because no one can get me to sleep. Can anyone give this a helpful comment or suggestion? Awake in Alabama.
I was really surprised to run across this page. I thought I was the only one with sleep problems do to pain. At least that'a how my doctor makes me feel !!!! I'm a firefighter that has had to have 5 operations in the past 6 years do to work realted injuries. 1-ankle 2-back 1-shoulder and 1-knee. The nights when I'm not on "duty" I'm lucky to get 3-4 hours of sleep. Due to chronic pain. When I try to talk to my doctor about it he will always try to turn it around to be a psychological issue. I don't doubt that I might have some post-tramatic stress issues. So he gave me Zoloft. This did not help. I try to tell him it's the chronic pain that keeps me up. He wont give me any Rx for sleep, so the only thing that I have tried is 100mg of Benadryl it helped somewhat but I still think there is a better way. My question is what kind of doctor should I see that would be better versed in treating people with chronic pain accompanied with the inability to sleep.
I have also had issues with pain and insomnia. One thing that may help others (it is worth a try) is Melatonin. It is available in any vitamin section. The trick is to take the maximum dose stated on the bottle and give it several weeks to take effect. It may take a while, but it has given me an hour or two more of sleep every night. That's something I guess!
I am saddened and shocked, at all of your suffering. I too suffer from chronic pain, but I am very lucky and was referred to a Pain specialist from my family M.D. after Neck surgery did not relieve any of my pain or symptoms.
I have been put on narcotics long acting, and and short acting for break thru pain. I also have been put on Topomax for the nerve pain, which has been helpful. There is many many drugs out there to help with chronic pain. Sleep meds have been made available to me, but they make me to sedate, and I started to sleep walk. But with the good pain control, I found I did not need them.
I live in Canada, but I know they have many pain clinics in the U.S.
Do the research. Use the Internet, hararass those Dr's. for the care you deserve. Nobody needs to be in that kind of pain with the kind of knowledge we have now. Fight for your rights.
I did and I won. and you can too.
i am struggling with not sleeping was to family doctor and he gave me ambien and a cd and a list of different things to try, which have not worked and neither did ambien. i do not want to go back to dr. because he said he would send me to get sleep study donr and the thought of someone watching me as i sleep bothers me. So i been taking tylenol Pm alot which is not even working anymore. I am out of solutions.
i do not have pain i just cannot sleep. I wonder i worked third shift for 3 years or so could that have something to do with it?
My husband has Fibromyalgia and never has a good nights sleep. He is in pain more than not. He as been on so many different prescriptions,none of which give him relief. He is now trying to see if his diet plays a role. Seems his pain is worse when he eats red meat but were not sure if that is the culprit. Being in pain is a horrible way to live and his constant pain scares me. Any other fibro patients out there??
I also suffer from TMJ/TMD, fibromyalgia, migraines, and arthritis. They all combine at times to make sleep impossible. I've also been through a sleep study and have been diagnosed with Sleep Apnea.
To make a long story short: I've also been through the rounds of doctors, psychologists and psychiatrists; and pain, antidepressant, and sleep medication combinations. I was finally forced to quit my job 11 months ago, and I was sleeping in snatches of 1-3 hours at a time for the past couple of years.
I know that different meds work differently for everyone, so please don't take the advice of ANY of these posts as the last word for your condition. Ambien didn't work for me, but I finally found major relief with Lunesta. For me - it worked like a miracle! The first night that I took it, I got 6 solid hours of sleep. It's been 6 weeks since I started taking 3 mg. of Lunesta every night, and I'm typically getting 5-6 hours of solid sleep ... and a few nights I've even slept for 7 straight hours (in combination with pain meds, an antidepressant, and a muscle relaxer).
Getting good rest has made a HUGE difference in how I'm feeling and handling my pain levels. I don't get any hung-over feeling from the Lunesta; but I do get the icky taste in my mouth. That's abated somewhat over time, and drinking more water and eating a little snack at bed-time helps that quite a bit. for me - it's a very small price to pay for sleep!
I have fibro..since "98" since then I have been diagnosed with degenerative disc disease. My sleep can be disrupted pretty easy. My Dr. gives me .5 klonipin, and flexeril 10 mil. for my sleep med. I have ultram for pain, its a great med, wont get you dopey and enables me to function during the day. Some days are better than others. I do accupuncture, and a very gentle chiropractor. I hope this is useful information, for someone else.
Hi!! I'm new here, but I can relate to all of you.
I've had insomnia since 2nd grade. That's right!! 2nd grade and I'm now 58 years old. Only on rare occasion do I get a full nights sleep. I really hate not being able to sleep. In grade school I'd just lay there staring at the ceiling until the sun came up. I don't know why.
I've been married 33 years and have kids in college but getting up in the mornings is awful. And driving around to do shopping etc. is always a foggy.
Chronic pain is a given; chronic fatique, fibro, and 3 months ago I was diagnosed with palpatations in my chest. I can't find a doctor who cares. Their always too busy and you only have 5-10 minutes in the office with them because their so booked.
All of you have been great help. I wrote down some of the meds you suggested. Maybe they'll help.
Hi, I have had chronic pain for 14 years now, I also have fibromyalgia, TMJ, Major Migraines and my legs now just drop out from under me. My spine is fused from L2 to S1 and my neck at C4-C5. For the last 14 years I have slept horribly. If I get sleep it is not much and when I do I never dream like I did before my injury, I wake up tired and groggy the whole next day sometimes I can get a nap if I am lucky. I kept changing Dr's because they made me feel like I was crazy and it was easier to put me on a pill than listen to me and help with other benificial ideas. After 5 Dr's I found a Neurologist who works with pain patients. He is great. He listened, sent me for MRI's, and found my spinal cord is being crushed. I am so sorry for all of you out there who have Dr's who push pills rather than listen. I have found that Ultram and Neurontin, helps with the pain and Fibromyalgia, Effexor XL helps me get a little sleep.
From: Anonymous said...
I was really surprised to run across this page. I thought I was the only one with sleep problems do to pain. At least that'a how my doctor makes me feel !!!!
...
Anonymous, find yourself a doctor that is a specialist in sleep medicine. Good luck!
hi, my daughter has been in pain
for years [ fibro not really sure
of her true problems. she is now
taking zyrem to sleep. i am doubtful
as to the safety of this drug but it
does the trick. best regards
I HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FROM BACK PAIN FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS AND JUST RECENTLEY ABOUT 6 MOTHS AGO I FOUND OUT I HAVE OSTEOPOROSIS. I AM ONLY 25 YEARS OLD BUT AM SUFFERING A LOT OF PAIN, I ALSO HAVE 5 COMPRESSION FRACTURES IN MY BACK AND CURRENTLEY TAKING FORTEO SHOT THAT I INJECT MYSELF WITH DAILY TO HELP THE BONE GROW BACK AND LORATAB AND 40 MG OF OXYCODONE AND NONE OF IT SEEMS TO WORK... I HAVE A REALLY BAD ANXIETY PROBLEM AS WELL WEHRE I NEED TO TAKE XANEX 3 TIMES A DAY (1MG). BUT FOR SOME REASON WHEN I TAKE THE PAIN MEDICATIONS IT KEEPS WE UP AND THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY FOR ME TO FALL ASLEEP UNLESS I TAKE 2 XANEXS BECUASE I HAVE TRYED 3 DIFFERENT TYPES OF AMBIEN BEFORE AND ALL THAT DOES IS GET ME TO SLEEP BUT I AM WIDE AWAKE 3 HRS LATER AND I WORK A NIGHT SHIFT SO ITS KINDA IMPORTANT THAT I GET AS MUCH SLEEP AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE I HAVE HAD A PANIC ATTACKS/SEIZURE ONE TIME BECAUSE I WAS SO STRESSED OUT AND THAT IS WHAT LED ME TO MY DR THAT TOLD ME I HAVE OSTEOPOROSIS BECAUSE WHEN I HAD BALCKED OUT I WAS STANDING AND HIT THE FLOOR AND BUSTED MY CHIN OPEN AND MUST OF TWEAKED MY BACK WHICH LED TO 2-4 OF THE NEW FRACTURES. I DONT KNOW IF ANYONE OUT THERE CAN HELP ME, BUT THE PAIN I GO THROUGH EVERYDAY IS UNBARABLE TO THE POINT WHERE MY DR WILL PUT ME ON DISABILITY BUT I HAVE A FAMILY AND I WONT BE ABLE TO PAY BILLS IF I DID THAT. SO I DONT KNOW IF ITS THE PAIN THAT CAUSES ME NOT TO SLEEP OR IF ITS THE MEDS THAT IS KEEPN ME UP BUT IF I DONT TAKE ANYTHING BEFORE I GOTO BED I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SLEEP AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS I AM AT GREATER RISK OF HAVING A SIEZURE.. IF ANYONE CAN HELP OF JHAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS CAN YOU PLEASE EMAIL ME AT VEKS67WCS@TMAIL.COM THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
if you have been taking pain meds
you are probably addicted and in
withdrawl when you don't take them
so seizures happen. i have been taking valium for 26 years. i tried
to stop and started having minor
seizures. i increased a half a pill
and it stopped. the doctors are too
busy to think. best regards
hello, my name is jeff and i have a repetive nightmare which i have tried to explain to myself for 2 YEARS now... I would like to comment on this phenomenon (for lack of a better word)...
First, i must say that i am in the mental health system for 7 YEARS now and for the last four years i have been getting (Finally!) the right treatment for my disorders...
Background: Depression, Anxiety Disorder, Somatization Disorder and
Stress Disorder...
Although i know that these disorders have played a role in the past with my sleep apnea problems, but after going through two clinical studies for the sleep disorder, i found that the problems
cessated for awhile and my sleep has been consistent and actually
been fine...
But for the last two years i have been experiencing a repetitive nightmare that won't go away...
Please e-mail me as to your thoughts
at jkeegan24@nycap.rr.com
it's beginning to obsess me and for the life of me i cannot figure it out as whenever structural differences change, so does the
"Scare-Mare"
i have been having these phenonenoms
at least ten to fifteen times per MONTH !!
Enough for now, I hope someone will answer me for more info at my e-mail
mentioned above...
Thanks, people, Jeff Keegan
My boyfriend is taking it for chronic pain and it works well for that. I am concerned becuase it is affecting our love life. He is able to get an erection but is never able to relieve himself. Any response would help if anyone is familiar with this side affect becuase it is not listed under the side affects on the computer
Thanks! This is great info. I think the topic of sleep and pain is not something that enough dr's address when treating patients. Just getting enough sleep certainly helps with the pain...
Hi,
I have a terrible problem with depression and anixiety. It's also causing other problems. When I type my left hand gets numb. In the mornings when I wake up, about 11 a.m., I am so stiff I can barely get around. I feel like I have the flu with the aches and pains. Energy is not possible. I know people must think I am the laziest person on earth. What can I do?
I have fibro and am on many pain meds and xanax for anxiety and sleep. At night I take my pain medications and 3 - 1mg Xanax and I can usually sleep 6-7 hours through. Then its time for another dose of pain medications.
I cant take any over the counter sleep meds or ambien because they make me "wired" and wide awake, it has the reverse effect.
Xanax calms me and I can sleep. Good luck! I am very lucky to have a doctor who helps me with my problems and will listen to me and my wants or what I want to try to sleep better and manage my pain better.
This post has been removed by the author.
I too am a chronic pain sufferer. I have degeneative arthritis in both my ankles and bulging discs in my back along with worsening spinal stenosis. In addition I was diagnosed with sleep apnea about 20 years ago and have been on cpap for that long. Aboout 2 years ago I starteed having these periods of sudden onset of overwhelming tiredness. When this happens, I don't sleep. I have gone 9 days with little to no sleep. I have sleep apnea and even with my cpap i have apnea periods. I become disoriented, confused, pale, short tempered, and have "zone out" periods. I also forget to take my medications ( pain meds, antihypertensives, seizure, anticoagulants). This is a pattern that happens about every 10 to 14 days. It stops as suddenly as it starts. My doctor at the sleep clinic tells me that he does not know why this is and offers me sleeping pills - which do not work during these episodes. This has been going on for almost 2 years. Very disruptive to my quality of life.
I have fibro and myofacial pain syndrome. I also have 2 disk in my cervical spine, and 2 in my lumbar spine that are pressing on nerves. I take a lot of meds., but recently my Dr. put me on Ambien CR. It helps me to sleep, but since I have been taking it I have had to many episodes of loosing control of my bladder during the night. This is very emberrasing to wake up, and already be urinating. I was also recently put on morphine 30mg. I don't take the morphine at the same time as I do the other meds, or the ambien cr. I finally sleep all through the night, but I don't like the side effects.
I am a 37yr/F with chronic l temple migraines that lead to numbness on L side of face and arm.Also my neck is only tolerable with soma. C2-C3 have degenerative arthritis,C4-C-5 has osteoarthritis.Only sleep 3-4 hrs.I am in southern Il and will continue pain clinic searches here and surrounding states. Any info at all barrett@mvn.net
Hi My issue is menopause and having had breast cancer, I am unable to take even herbal supplements. I awake @ 3am every morning freezing cold one minute and soaking wet within 10 more minutes and unable to get any sleep from 3am on. I know you should not take someone else's meds but I tried one of my moms Klonopin (fibromialgia sufferer) and it really helped. I've tried 3 nights now and am going to speak with my doctor to possible get a prescription, my question is 1mg Klonopin, can that be addictive? Hoping that I've found something that can help.
I fell on my left arm 3 months ago, another person grabbed my right arm so 200lbs fell on my left. 2 months ago my shoulder started hurting like crazy. I've never had pain as severe as this. I can't sleep with this pain even with the meds & I'm also Bipolar & I'm afraid of going off the deep end because of lack of sleep. Thank God for the Internet.
I read all of the posts on this page and only one listed the drug that has helped me dramatically,KLONIPIN (.5)although I have taken it for only a short time period it has shown miraculous results. I have suffered for 3yrs. insomnia/chronic pain. I have seen numerous Dr's and tried many drugs.Klopin was prescribed by a PA (physicians assistant). The moral to the story is that there's a Doctor/PA and a drug out there for you don't stop SEARCHING. Also don't let depression take over because if you don't take ACTION or get answers from the RIGHT medical professional it eventually will. TRY Klonipin so far it has changed my life I can now SLEEP,THINK CLEARLY,HAVE MORE ENERGY and MUCH LESS OVERALL BODY PAIN! Never Give up!
This is to the Firefighter. The first thing you need to do is get rid of your current doctor. He is afraid to put you on sleep meds because they are usually a short term fix(months)but the fact is you need relief NOW. Get on sleep meds until you can have a sleep study done. They are expensive but it can start the process to diagnosis. I was diagnosed with restless leg syndrome but I also have arthritis/chronic pain. Mirapex was prescribed and did not work. Then I was prescribed KLONIPIN and had immediate positive results.My doctor tried the same thing with me ZOLOFT/CYMBALTA when chronic pain was the issue not depression. THANKS FOR SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY AS A FIREFIGHTER AND GOOD_LUCK!
Hey all, i would like to say that i am somewhat relieved to see that i am not the only one that has unexplained problems sleeping. And by unesplained i mean unexplained and im sure undiagnosed. I have no medical insurance and not alot of means to get it. I used to have insurance and went through a sleep test which came out inconclusive. I have had pain and insomnia for about 10-12 years now. Im 26 years old. Some of it is what they call night owl syndrom and sleep phase disorder but i have never been perscribed anything. Its not that i dont feel tired. My body is completely wasted but i can tell that my brain is the problem. I cant GO to sleep even if i am tired. I also suffer from some pain in my slolders arms and legs. I think some of it is RLS but im not sure. I have used several pain relievers RX and OTC, none of which were perscribed to me as well as many different sleeping medications but the sleeping medications just increase the RLS and i twitch and freak out almost like im having a seziure in bed and i cant sleep. It brings with it alot of pain. The only medication i have taken that ACTUALLY works is 50 milligram Tramadol also known as Ultram. i take 6-8 of them and i am able to get to sleep retiively well. I end up sleeping between 6-10 hrs. If i dont take them i dont sleep at all or get EXACTLY 2 or 3 hrs of sleep. What do i do? Any suggestions? Does anyone know why tramadol would be working for me or if it is a viable treatment? I want to ask my dr for some but i dont want him to think im a druggie or something and but me in rehab or what not. Everytime i talk to a DR about this tho they just dont seem to understand or care how horrible it makes you feel to not sleep for 4 or 5 days. I dont know about you but it makes me extreamly fustrated and i feel like im just going to lose it and freak out! anyway please someone give me some advice.
Errin- CheneyGuy@aol.com
I have chronic pain from a severe leg injury (20+) surgeries. My sister was diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibro. She committed suicide on October 7th. I have been dealing with pain and sleepless nights since approx 1992. My original surgery was in 1989. I have been on disability since 1995. My sister was not so fortunate to go that route. Because CFS and Fibro.. are not recognized by insurance, doctors and employers, she just couldn't keep up work and financial struggle getting no pay for days off after depleting her sick days. She was short of 2 years away from a pension. What will it take for Doctors, Insurance Companies and Employers to deal with vague medical issues and how many poeple will give up as my sister did in the meantime? The pain from my leg injury is now the least of my pain. Please don't give up, find a way to fight insurance companies, doctors and employers.
Sad outside Chicago and desperately missing my sister
Have you considered you get opposite reactions to meds? Any medication that says may cause drowsiness is like taking speed to me. I cannot take pain meds after 4:00pm if I want to sleep before midnight. I get this reaction from Tylenol 3 through MS Contin. My Doc put me in for morpheine pump drug trial and after 4 days with round the clock observation in ICU I slept 2 times for 8 to 12 minutes. Needless to say, no morpheine pump for me.
WOW!! Great to see I am not alone...sorry that so many of you suffer from the same problems. I am (stand back) a chronic pain/sleep deprived woman. I have endometriosis which is incredibly painful and hard for the everyday person to have symphthy, because they cannot see my pain. I am also a Benadryl junkie, which does help me, but I am concerned about long term use (3 years now) Doctors are not at all supportive and want to get me to take antidepression meds when I am not depressed!! I would just like to say to you sleep deprived people...CHIN UP!! KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT DEPRESSED, HOWEVER IT IS DEPRESSING TO HURT ALL THE TIME, THAT DOES NOT MAKE YOU CLINICALLY DEPRESSED,ALSO TO HAVE NO SUPPORT FROM PEOPLE THAT DO NOT GET THAT, AND TO STILL HAVE TO FUNCTION!!
I wish you all the best of luck and I will keep popping the Benadryl in hopes of something that is better!!
I have had chronic Back pain in my lower back since the latter part of May in 2003. They have fused c3-c4 & one of the Titanium Screws is bent down causing a little blood into my spine. My average sleep is about 3 hours. 4 on a Good nite. I have been on many narcotics which keep the pain down slightly, but my tolerance level for medication has increased to unbelieveable levels. Even the doctors are amazed that it does not affect me like it should. What I can not stand is the Major Migraines the inflamatories create.
How do I stand living like this is only the fact that I have children & Grandchildren. What can I take that can relieve pain without alot of side effects. I am willing to do anything possible & live in the Denver area. I am willing to become apart of a study on pain in the lower spine. So all doctors know I have been through every type of therapy possible, but without the Narcotics I am a Vegetable. Please Help... You can contact me @ edrichar49@live.com
I hope & wish that all of you do well & keep the depression down as much as possible. I wish the Best for all of you.....
Ed Richards
Dear Ed,
We invite you to post on a few of our message boards for insight and support:
Back Pain
Migraines
Pain Management
Thank You WebMD,
I would love to help & gain insight to helping others with the depression involved in the Major back Surgeries that do go wrong. Then you have to get used to taking the narcotics. & Never move from your state because moving from Las Vegas to Greeley, Colorado the Doctors do not know how to deal with the pain involved, & not ever to forget not sleeping disorders.
Please do not ever give up, even if the doctors do not understand how much pain you are in.
I will update all the fields you have given me. Being disabled & a Guinea Pig for all Doctors I would be proud to let everyone know what to look forward to in Therapy & Surgery. I just happen to be the one in a million where nothing works & the side effects play a major role in how I deal with it day to day. Please say a prayer for my Wife: Destiny for going through all of this with me & no matter what, I can always count on her. Please also Thank My Oldest daughter for finding the doctors & putting up with Dad & his Major Moodiness. Not to mention my depression for not being able to work & help support them when they need it most. So everyone knows I greatly appreciate all help coming my way. edrichar49@live.com If you ever get down & out please let me know because I have the jokes that will make you laugh, & to me that is the greatest medicine.
Thank You WebMD,
Ed Richards
PS....I will update those sites for you as well.....& see if someone else is going through what I am. Please stay away from surgery unless you can not take it anymore
What do you think of namenda>
i had trouble sleeping all of the time...i now take 1 mil. adavan before bed and sleep with a fan on low. for me the fan creates some sound so i can sleep. i had trouble falling asleep because i would think too much when i would try to sleep because it was too quite. the fan helps me sleep and the adavan helps me clear my mind.
I have had chronic pain for about 2 years. I also worked the night shift for about 20. I take 30mg MS contin 3X a day and 15mg MSIR 2X a day as needed. I was waking up every 4 hrs on the nose, as the pain meds wore off. My pain management doctor put me on 25-50mg amytriptiline at bedtime which worked well for the first two weeks now I am waking up again. For the girl several posts up, pain meds zap testosterone in men (mine was 150, they said 250-1000 was normal) but it is difficult to find a doctor that can handle all the health problems/side effects. I see a urologist for androgel which is putting testosterone back in me, hopefully (just been a week now). I have testicular pain as referred back pain, but I was to be gone over by a urologist to be sure it wasn't anything other than the nerve, my girl was with me and found the Androgel leaflet in the office. I was suffering the same as your boyfriend during sex (couldn't finish). Now she says its "bigger" and I finish, bad news is I have a faceful of zits, lol. For you sleep deprived, ask if you can try the amytriptilene (sp?) it worked for me so far, I'm going to ask if there are tolerance problems because I have been waking at night again. Good luck everyone and keep trying until you find the right doctor that cares and right meds/treatment.
Hi, I have burning and tingling in my lower legs and I Think that it started after taking Ambien Cr and after a very stressful problem with my supervisor who was harassing me. I feel very stressed all the time at work.
I have have Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrom (CFIDS) for 14 years and Firbomyalgia for 12 years. Along with a herniated disk with a teer in it and degenrative disk disease... All of this and I am only 34. Life dealt me an aweful hand...
I have been through every single sleep aid out there, both OTC and of course presripted drugs.
Ambien and Ambien CR had the nasty side effect of serious sleepwalking, throwing up without remembering it etc.
I have found that the only things that helps ME, is 3-4 mg of Xanax an hour of so before bedtime. Just remember that if you are a smoker, you shouldn't smoke after taking them, because nicotine blocks the receptors that Xanax works on.
I have heard all these horror stories about Xanax, about having to increase the doseage often... but I have been on the same dose for closer to 3 years now, and it still works wonders for me.
Lunesta... never worked... still waiting for it to do it's magic and I had teh same issue with Rozerem (plus teh fact that it might muck up hormones isn't appealing for a woman... have enough of that as it is!)
I am also on OxyContin, Tylenol#4, Tramadol (gives me nightmares if taken too close to bedtime, Soma and the Xanax... along with Glucosamine with MSM (What a God sent!!!! Has helped with trigger point pain) and also multivitamines and extra Folic acid.
Considering that I went without any adequat painmanagement for 9 years, I am so happy to be able to do normal things.
So even if you go outside the "normal" sleep aids, sedatives can be helpful.
Hi my grandmother has been in two surgeries due to sciatica. In her first surgery the pain was entirely gone for a whole week and came back ten fold. She no longer has back pain but her leg keeps hurting all the time and it's getting worse. Does anyone have any ideas how she can completely get rid of this pain?! Thanks and God bless you in searching for good health....
Hi, to all of you who have posted, know you are in my prayers and God really cares for you and what you are going through. I can completely relate to pain and trouble sleeping due to my diagnosis of trigeminal neuralgia. God really blessed me with a neurologist who had me try amytryptaline in small doses building up as needed until I got to the right dose for me to be able to sleep all night long and not wake up drowsy. He had me judge in the morning how drowsy I might be and back up when I took it at night to adjust to waking up refreshed and non-drowsy. It took time but it works wonderful. Just be patient and don't expect immediate results in one medicine the first night you take it. My doctor said amytryptaline is non-narcotic and non-addictive and can be taken as high a dose as needed for the individual (taken under a doctor's care of course). It works wonderful for me. If it works for you as well, Praise God!, if not, be patient and never give up. I'm praying for all of you! Pam
i cant seem to get a doctor rto listen to me about my issues with not being able to sleep and they tell me its all in my head i do sleep i jsut never get enough sleep its like i keep going and going and then again its to the point i can hear my blood pressure rising or it could be my brian working overtime i have no clue who to go to or who to talk to but im losing my mind here and my patience with everything can youtell me who i can talk to please
thank you so much annonymous for the comment on amytryptaline. I have a chronic insomina for 7 years first xanax than off that than they wouldn't give me anything and I went a little crazy, but not hospital crazy and bought myself over the counter sleep aid than I became ill with steven johnsons syndrome dec 2007 and I was on 80 mg steriods and I didn't sleep at all for days and days and I was a wreck and not one of my drs understood that I needed to sleep. This winter I got it again, seriously in Feb. instead of Dec. same burns same allergic reaction same treatment and this time I said too much and they wanted to commit me to a mental institution, because I had broken my forearm, my elbow, and fractured my shoulder in 2 places and I was in excruciating pain with the burns already and now with this I couldn't stop crying and begging for help from everyone. Every thing they gave me I was allergic too except the steriods and the antibiotic, I swelled everywhere, my tongue, my legs, my feet my head you name it was swelling, I was rushed to the hospital a number of times. for 7 days I slept 0 hrs. I was shaking my heart was beating out of my chest, I couldn't breathe, and no one would listen they were just sick of me talking about me wanting to be pain free and sleep, so my friend a mental health worker decided to call my pcp and my sister a nurse and get me committed before I hurt myself. I wasn't going to hurt myself, I wanted some relief and some sleep and no one heard me and so I cried alot. My finance' and my boys knew nothing about this. They would have told them no she wants relief from pain and she wants to sleep. They had heard me, but when I went to my drs. appoint. I was ambushed by my dr. and my sister and I never got to tell him that my feet and ankles had swollen to three times there size. Patches of my hair where falling out from the lessions coming off and taking my hair with it. I hadn't slept. He just wouldn't listen they decided between his nurse, my friend and my sister that I was originally on chantex to quit smoking for breathing problems that I was suicidal and that was the last thing on my mind. I am getting married in June. We just bought a house I move on Sat. I have grown children who are wonderful to me and why would I do that. This started the 5th of Feb. it is now the 27th and I still don't have anything for sleep. I refuse to try another narcotic, never again and steriods never again. I don't care what is swelling, I don't care what they say. I take them they make me cry and cry and they drive everyone away and my sleeping problem becomes a no sleep at all problem and than no dr. listens. My sister wouldn't sign off, thank God. She took me to be evaluated and she spoke for me. I thank her from the depth of my heart and they released me, but still I haven't been able to sleep more than 2 hrs at night than around 12 or 1 I awake and am awake until the next day around 7 than I might be able to get 2 more hrs, but mostly I can't get anymore. I'm on med leave until mid april for this new episode of what am I allergic too. I thought once I was off the steriods, I would sleep some at least 4 or 6 hrs, but I just can't. I have ZOLPIDEM - ORAL 10 mg that gives me my 2 hrs. and it's not enough and I can't take another it's addictive it's a narcotic which I hate and I don't want withdrawal which I will have. They only gave me 10 so I can't take more than 1 or I'll not have the 2 hrs per night. They did find a pain killer for me. I have creams for my burns and my arm, elbow and shoulder are healing on schedule, so thank you in advance if this works because I don't know how long a person can go with only 2hrs, but it can't be good for my mind or for any one around me.
it is 1:16 am. obviously i can't sleep. my legs are hurting, even with the senimet. my back is hurting, degenerative disc disease i'm told, so vicodin is a nightly ritual. allergies r bad so benadryl is included. daypro is also for back and sciatia, nerve on lower right back and right leg.2 different cholesterol meds, fish oil also. neurontin for damaged nerves from strokes. seems like something would knock me out. i sleep maybe 3-4 hrs. a night then up all day. what is going on? i am also on 150 mgs of effexor. is this too much? i hurt all over really all the time. sometimes the dr looks at you like you are crazy and pain is all in your mind. it's the pain that makes you that way.
Hi, I have been chronic pain for around 5years, and also cannot sleep. I take very high doses of morphine and oxycotin. Lack of working and worring about Life? will keep you awake. I find on days that I go for a walk or visit with family or friends helps me rest a little better. It is not easy doing this but it is better than lying on the couch waiting for the end. Be peacful and love your family, in the end you will get plenty of sleep. DM
Hi I just wanted to know what would happen if I took a 1mg of lorazepam and a extra strenght tylenol pm. Hope all will feel better soon.
I have insomnia, chronic back pain, and FMS, and nothing is helping me with sleep. I've tried ambien, and the cr, flexeril, zanaflex, blaclofen, lunesta, roserem, and nothing works. I'm at my wits-end, as I only get 2-3 hrs. sleep per night, and that's interrupted. I've tried melitonin also. WHAT can I do???????????? I'm losing it. I was givin 15mg restoril, but i weigh as much as a man, and am insulted at such a low dose because that doesn't work either!!!! chronic pain does a job on you physically and mentally. I can't go on like this.
i've tried just about everything that i've read here. Valium has saved my life when it comes to sleep. I wake up rested and feeling better. It helps with muscle spasms during the day, in small doses. Ask your MD.
Hello, I also have had insomnia and chronic pain for years. I am on disability. I have severe arthritis in my spine, knees, feet, hands, shoulders, and neck. I also have fibromyalgia. I have tried many meds. I am currently on vicodin, ibuprofin, for pain, clonazepam 1mg. for anxiety at night and to help me sleep, (does not work), I am on zoloft, which helps the depression, but does not help me sleep. Ambian has not helped me either. I average about 3 hours a night.
I have tried suicide,I am a cutter, and I am now seeing a therapist. But the thoughts of hurting myself never go away.
I feel all of your pain. This has been going on for so long.
I have have CRPS/RSD for over a year now and don't sleep for longer than 2-3 hours if I'm lucky. I have a Pain Management physician, a spinal cord stimulator, am on narcotics, lunesta, topamax, cymbalta (although I'm not clinically depressed) I'm just depressed about not sleeping and about being in pain all the time. I can't help but think that a good night's sleep would go a long way towards helping lessen all of our pain. I read all of these posts and wonder what else all of us can do. I am willing to participate in any study that I can to help and wonder if there is any other board that I should participate in? Please know that I feel for all of us. Lissa
Hi I have had Chronic pain, depression and insomia for 3 years. I have taken every injection used every pain machine there is to my knowledge. My pain still exist. I have taken Hydrocodone to mofene to oxyc etc for pain. I have known those that have become addicted to all of these drugs. I hurt minute of the day, but hurt more in fear that I would become addicted. I lay down most of the day and take over the counter sleep aids, for 1 to 3 hrs sleep. Then a prescription sleep aids at night for maybe 3 to 4 hrs of sleep. I have seen what these drugs have done to people. Some that start taking street drugs after becoming immune to these drugs. I have a chosen the pain over the addiction. I have choosen pain and sleep. I hate the pain, but I know I would hate the drugs and what they will do to me and my family even more. May God Bless us all.I also pray, that all that do not know our pain will never know.
Be Blessed
I have been reading the posts and like most of you have suffered with chronic pain for some years now. I have been on amytryptaline off and on for several years, along with trying several different pain meds and anti depressants to no avail. My new family Dr. referred me to a neurologist, first time I was ever referred to one for this and I think I found my help finally. I was originally diagnosed with fibromyalgia, then chronic tension in my neck, shoulder, and back, along with the chronic migraines I have had since the age of 4. I just found out today from the neurologist that amytryptaline can cause severe headaches and because it constricts the blood vessels, it can potentially cause heart problems and heart attack. I was also told that taking alot of analgesic over the counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or migraine prescriptions everyday can also cause more headaches. I would suggest looking into a neurologist and getting checked out thoroughly. He took me off the amytryptaline, ibuprofen, and migraine pills and is trying me on Namenda, which blocks glutamate production which causes pain. its normally used for alzheimers for memory, but works for this too. it is supposed to block the glutamate, which prevents the pain, and gives u back more awareness, memory, and ability to function and do daily activities. I'll let u know if it works. after years of pain, and neverending pills, I am hoping.
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