I'm going through a terrible round of insomnia. The not able to stay asleep kind. (If you have read my other thread about pain, I know it's not helping the pain issue at all.) Seems no matter what I do, besides pills, I can't sleep. So, tonight I am taking Ambien to help me get some Zzzzz's. What do you do when you are in a sleep rut? What routines help you get to sleep and stay asleep? How often does pain keep you awake? Thanks!
There have been many duscussions on this so don’t feel alone! You can search some of the response if that helps on the main page. I know my biggest probs are steroids and stress. I avoid predisone as often as possible because of this sleepless side effect it gives me ( heart issues too but no sleep hate it!). Pain always interferes but then comes the stress right along with it. Balance takes time and constant changes as our bodies change. The aches and pains seem to switch locations faster than at least I can keep up with . Then add stress and worries and then the zzz seem so far away. Don’t be afraid to use pills if you are OK with them fighting treatment can be more work than accepting it but be sure you have a good grasp on what you take.
I've always had trouble sleeping, insomnia seems to run in the family. Either my brain won't shut up, or I just can't relax, toss the pain in the mix and sleep is likely to be scarce.
One of my doctors said that some people don't produce enough melatonin so suggested I use that. It seems to help some, but isn't a sure thing. I've used so much benadryl over the years that it doesn't even slow me down, and I can't use narcotics within so many hours of work so that isn't an option.
Pain keeps me up a lot. That constant biting that doesn't let up *sigh*. Other times it wakes me up, which stinks. More recently I've been having a lot of trouble with my hands going numb or getting pins & needles that wake me up. I think it's got to be from the inflammation in my elbows or something, though a super firm new pillow last night seemed to help!
When I do sleep I have some wild dreams, especially after remicade infusion, really really weird dreams...which is something because I have a lot of really weird dreams to begin with. Sometimes those wake me up, too.
I'm sort of an insomniac since I started Enbrel. If I don't take a PM pain killer such as Tylenol or Advil PM, I get very little sleep. The other thing is caffeine. Ideally, I sleep best if I don't drink any coffee or pop with caffeine after 1:00 p.m.
Amielynn, you're on Enbrel now, too. Right! Or is it humira--I can't remember. Maybe it's causing this insomnia!
I have this in my left arm particularly and just went through nerve stimulation testing to check for damage to the ulnar nerve where it passes through the elbow in the cubital tunnel and the wrist at the carpel tunnel. Thankfully I haven't got any damage (yet) but prevention is better than cure and I've found that wearing an elbow support with light splinting at night helps keeps the arm straight. I've also found a YouTube video with some physio exercises which I'm going to try. Want to give both of these a chance to help before the docs go near my elbow with either corticosteroid injections or scapels!!!!
oh look, a chicken! said:
...... More recently I've been having a lot of trouble with my hands going numb or getting pins & needles that wake me up. I think it's got to be from the inflammation in my elbows or something, though a super firm new pillow last night seemed to help! .......
I am on Enbrel. And sleep problems do run in my family. It stinks.
Oh, Look, I also wake with "Dead" hands and arms. I figured it was the sleep position. My shoulders are flared and swollen, but I sleep on my side! Maybe we all need body splints ;)
Believe me this works. Before you get ready to sleep, watch as much comedy as possible. Endorphins are a God send! It’s easy to fall asleep with a smile on your face and a good feeling inside.
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I too have the “falling asleep hands” problem which makes me wake up every night! I have wrist braces but if the sleepy hands don’t interfere with sleep I wake up ripping the obnoxious braces off so it’s a no win situation. Lol. Being a mechanic I thought it was carpal tunnel and it maybe but my last MRI showed neck disk issues so that maybe my prob was not diffinative.
I agree with the comedy routine I sleep better after watching it too but never made the connection until the post mentioned it
Comedy, what a great idea!! I find myself watching too many sad dramas before bed.
The neurologist I saw told me that when my arms and/or thumb, 1st and 2nd fingers were involved it was likely to be compression of the median nerve from the shoulder down and if this was the case to avoid sleeping on my stomach (as if my back could take that these days!!) or that side of my body. If the numbness was the ring finger/little finger then it was the ulnar nerve. I think he said both nerves go through the carpel tunnel .... I didn't pay much attention about the carpel tunnel because my problems are definitely in my shoulder and from having my elbow bent .... like now when I'm typing :(
It's certainly something to keep an eye on because the nerves can be irreversibly damaged which can lead to things like claw fingers. As if we don't already have enough to worry about, hey?!?!
amielynn38 said:
I am on Enbrel. And sleep problems do run in my family. It stinks.
Oh, Look, I also wake with "Dead" hands and arms. I figured it was the sleep position. My shoulders are flared and swollen, but I sleep on my side! Maybe we all need body splints ;)
Hi amielynn,
I don't know if you've seen my latest post, but at my last visit to my rheumy he gave me a mild antidepressant to make me go into the deep sleep state, since I have always had sleep problems and it is now apparently making my symptoms way worse. I've been using it for a couple of nights now, and it's actually worked wonders. My brain fog is lifted for the most part, and even though my SI and lower back pain and problems with my right foot persisted, pain in my left foot, right knee and wrists have gone completely. The remaining aches are I believe either inflammation or some mechanical problem (I will also be seeing an orthopedist for my right foot - I'm beginning to think it might be a mechanical problem and not necessarily inflammation).
I'm not advocating popping up a pill to sleep and feel better, but, in my case, I have refused this prescription for almost a year, and now I'm beating myself up about it. I didn't want to accept secondary fibro as a diagnosis (more "crazy" diagnosis?!), and suffered through overall aches and pains and muscle spasms IN ADDITION to my arthritis pain, when I could get rid of at least some of them. Doesn't seem very rational, huh? I'm not saying you have fibro, but my doc said not getting a good night's sleep amplifies pain, fibro or not. So maybe you should talk to your doctor about your sleep problems? The difference it made for me is unbelievable.
Thanks everyone. I have family in now right now, so it has been crazy. I have read all your posts, just haven't had a chance to respond. Once I have some time I'll write back.
I never used to suffer from insomnia, although I've had constant "discomfort" trying to get to sleep and no matter which way I would lay something would be hurting. Someone with MS mentioned to me that they read there was a common thread between narcolepsy and AI conditions, that was interesting reading. Narcolepsy is not at all what I thought it was and I think I may have a mild case along with my PsA, that's a sidebar... I sometimes take Sonata to get to sleep, I usually stay asleep after that but try not to take it all the time. Stretching before bed is supposed to make you sleepy and I've tried that while listening to "ambient" music which is supposedly good as well. I recommend the song "weightless" by macaroni union, you can listen to it for free on YouTube. There was some study that said its the most relaxing song of all time by some scientific method. (Who analyzes this stuff?) Anyway, it does seem pretty relaxing if you can just turn your brain off for a bit.
Thanks Mel B. Most relaxing song of all time huh? :)
LOL. Yes, there was some experiment where they measured heart rate decrease and all this other stuff. There was even a warning not to listen to it while driving. I'm not sure it could be that relaxing because I drive in heavy freeway traffic every day and nothing could make me fall asleep while road raging!
Haha!! "Traffic on freeway due to relaxation song."!!!!