Sleep disturbance or insomnia is commonplace when you have chronic pain. Both these conditions are usually influenced by each other—while your pain can disrupt a restful night of sleep, lack of adequate sleep can exacerbate your pain symptoms.,
Sleep disturbance from chronic pain can occur in many ways; you may find it difficult to fall asleep, awaken frequently at night, wake up very early in the morning, and/or feel unrefreshed or tired after your night’s sleep.
See Chronic Pain and Insomnia: Breaking the Cycle
If you experience any of these insomnia symptoms, here are 5 little-known tips that may help you gain a healthy sleep routine:
1. Consume foods that may help promote sleep
Consuming certain foods in your evening meal may help increase the level of tryptophan in your body. Tryptophan is a type of protein that is essential for the production of the sleep-regulating hormone, serotonin. Increased tryptophan levels help reduce the time taken to fall asleep, promote more restful sleep, and improve alertness in the morning. Examples of such sleep-promoting foods are:
- Carbohydrates with a high glycemic index, such as rice.
- Fruits, such as cherries and kiwis.
- Whole foods, such as milk, pulses, fatty fish, and shellfish.
When you plan to make dietary changes, consult with your doctor to ensure that the new food or supplement that you try does not adversely affect any existing medical condition or medication that you may be taking. Also, consider abstaining from foods and drinks that may adversely affect your sleep, such as coffee, tea, and chocolates. These food contain caffeine and theobromine that may disrupt your sleep cycle.
2. Practice yoga daily
Yoga is a mind-body therapy and through the physical poses, rhythmic breathing, and meditation, yoga may help relieve chronic back pain and improve sleep.
It is advised to learn yoga from a licensed instructor, who can tailor the poses according to your tolerance level and the underlying cause of your back pain. Once you learn the specific yogic poses, you can practice them at home according to your convenience. If you experience pain or discomfort while doing a pose, make sure to inform your yoga instructor.
3. Take a short walk in the evening
If you work at an office, get minimal exercise, have chronic lower back pain, and find it difficult to fall asleep at night, an evening walk may help relieve your pain and promote better sleep.,
When you walk, your core body temperature increases. This temperature then begins to drop due to the heat dissipation mechanisms of the body (such as increased blood flow to the skin). The resulting lower body temperature then helps trigger your sleep cycle. Walking may also reduce anxiety, promoting better sleep.
See Exercise Walking for Better Back Health
Including an evening walk in your daily routine may also be beneficial in reducing chronic lower back pain by strengthening your back and abdominal muscles and increasing flexibility in your lower back.,
See Techniques for Effective Exercise Walking
4. Take slow, deep breaths to get to sleep and fall back asleep
Slow, rhythmic breathing has calming mind-body effects and may help alleviate pain and stress, promoting sleep. Research indicates that taking slow and deep breaths before bedtime can help you get to sleep faster and fall back asleep in case you wake up during the night.
This type of breathing technique also helps synchronize your heart rate and breathing pattern, which may help promote deeper, restorative sleep.
5. Consider taking a sleep aid
Several sleep-enhancing preparations are available over the counter to help promote better sleep. While some are available as tea bags for brewing, others can be taken orally in the form of tablets or capsules. Here are a few common examples:
- Herbal preparations: Valerian capsules and chamomile tea,,
- Fruit extracts: Cherry juice or capsules of tart cherry extract
- Micronutrient supplements: Zinc and/or magnesium,,
- Synthetic preparations: Melatonin capsules or tablets
These supplements may help improve the onset, duration, and quality of sleep in some people.
When you are sleep deprived due to your chronic pain, it may be worth trying one or more of these little-known options to help you get more sleep. A process of trial and error will help you understand which option works best. If you’re not able to sleep well despite trying these tips, consult a doctor for prescription medications or other medical treatments.
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