Hi everyone, Have any of you found that after multiple surgeries or constant pain that you hate the bed? Just wondering? Supposed fact is that all/most chronic pain sufferers have insomnia, could it be because we fight going to bed? I have spent Sooo many hours in the bed with back surgeries, csf leaks, pain, etc i hate laying/ lying in bed. I fight against it like a baby that doesnt want to miss anything! Insomnia, yes. But, i think its because i relate pain & the bed! Anyone else? Have you ever thought about it? Would like to hear others thoughts, ideas, stories. Please? Thanks, gmak
Not sure I asked you. Chronic pain affects my memory. How many hours are you able to sleep at night?
Oh, you will love that, I cannot rest my neck on the pillow at all (both sides). So you can understand my life has been a nightmare for 7 years already.
Before, I was able to sleep 8-9 hours. Now, without sleeping pills 1-2-3 hours.
I am sure 100% I cannot sleep cause of pain since I cannot rest my neck on the pillow.
The following 2 users give hugs of support to: nochange gmak (11-27-2012), workinmom572 (12-05-2012)
Gmak,i understand completely. I used to be a person who could sleep hrs and hrs no problem. It is the opposite now. the bed is the enemy. I have invested in a memory foam mattress cover. It made a difference before surgery on all the tender tender trigger points. but now after surgery it kinda creeps me out when it compresses in some areas and then reaches up to touch against my recent incisions. I always take my pain meds and muscle relaxer before bed so i can relax enough to fall asleep. I am terrified of when i am weaned off the meds and have to attempt sleep the natural way. NoChange have your tried a latex pillow? it is the only thing i can use since my C-5 fusion surgery. And yes! is the pain why my brain is mush? or two surgeries in 4 months?? i have given up on being responsible for remembering anything anymore!! i had memory problems before but its ridiculous now.
I wish you good sleep...
Agwhitten
The following user gives a hug of support to agwhitten: nochange (11-26-2012)
The Following User Says Thank You to agwhitten For This Useful Post: gmak (11-25-2012)
Hey guys, I sleep one to five hours max a night. After taking sleep med, takes few hours for me to get sleepy enough to make myself go to bed. At the very first chance i get close enough to conscienciousness, i "jump" out of bed! Sometimes i find that i've been asleep only forty minutes! When i sleep more than five hours, i awaken with "recovery room" pain. Like when you have surgery & dreaming away then, bam you are awake & in major pain. "Need More Stories!" Thank you,gmak
Last edited by gmak; 11-25-2012 at 10:05 PM.
The following user gives a hug of support to gmak: nochange (11-26-2012)
Hello Gmak!, (or anyone else?)if you don't mind me asking....Do you think there is a connection between hair and chronic pain and insomnia (lack of sleep). There are many days I am only sleeping 40 minutes also, just like you.
Somebody has just told me it looks like I am losing some of my hair....HELP.
Also, I don't eat much, it's enough for me one meal a day. I am just not hungry.
Can you lose your hair(some of your hair of course)cause of lack of sleep and chronic pain?
Gmak, if I understand your concern, it is more of a psychological one of hating the bed. I understand! I have lupus, RA, had 3 back surgeries, one neck surgery and have to lie down frequently because of pain or fatigue. Here's some ideas: I never go to my bed during the day. I lie on the couch in family room, or a recliner. If I have to nap, I occasionally lie down on another bed in a different room. I think of it as my "day bed" and my regular bed as my night only bed. Perhaps you also need a longer acting sleeping pill. Ambien is very short. Temazapam (Restoril) is good and longer acting but I can take it with no hangover. Sleep apnea causes insomnia and daytime fatigue, brain fog, etc. and it may be worth getting checked for that. Once you get treated for it, if you have it, you sleep much better and feel much better during the day. If you hang out during the day in the rooms of your home OTHER THAN your bedroom, you will lose your hatred of it. Also, try doing some redecorating of your bedroom to freshen it, make it look pretty, different and soothing, and it may help change your perspective of it. Try thinking of it as your nighttime sanctuary, and de-clutter it if needed, put up some nice artwork, make the lighting soft, the linens luxurious and you might like it then. Then stay out of it during the day and stay in the "active" parts of your place. Hope that helps.
The Following User Says Thank You to ladybud For This Useful Post: gmak (01-20-2013)
PS I know you suffer from bad back and neck pain. I would experiment with using a body pillow or a pillow or two between or under your knees when you sleep. I find that getting into a comfortable position initially helps the pain and the sleep follows. I use 2 pillows under my knees when on back, then put those in between my knees when on side. It straightens the spine and aligns it and I can last an hour or more in one position that way. A heating pad on low or a heated mattress pad may help too. I like those better than an electric blanket with the heat on top, since heat rises, it makes more sense to have it under you. There are two supplements I take, Inositol 500mg (inhibits histadine which keeps people awake) and GABA 500mg (increases Serotonin to help you sleep). They are available in health food stores. I feel for you as I have struggled with these same issues in past or present.
The Following User Says Thank You to ladybud For This Useful Post: workinmom572 (12-05-2012)
There is undoubtedly the connection element between lying down and pain. Your body is now conditioned to expect pain when you get into bed, explaining possibly why you seem to dread it so much. In these situations, Ive always been told if you cant change the situation, change what you can. You have to sleep so how about getting a new bec? decorating perhaps? If you got a new bed frame, maybe a memory foam mattress or a latex mattress ,something different from your current sleeping area, it would represent a mental break from your previous traumas?
The Following User Says Thank You to FrankieSet For This Useful Post: gmak (01-20-2013)
It's not my bed that I hate so much as the fact that all the hours I spend lying on it are so BORING! I'm really not a big television watcher, I'd rather be on the computer.
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~ asthma, allergies, anxiety, arthritis, back problems, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia
I had a different problem. Every time I laid down unbearable pain would surge down my legs. Got so I was afraid to lie down. This lasted for a few years now I get sciatica every night if I lay on my side for more than a few minutes.
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Pooby Gal
The following user gives a hug of support to pooby: gmak (11-26-2012)
I had surgery last December......and my husband bought me a Kendall fire...it kept me sane! I play words with friends Read books check email all on my back!!!;
Last edited by moderator2; 11-26-2012 at 05:58 PM.
Reason: posted disallowed website
Thanks everyone. Ive done all of the suggestions already b/c this has been for years, but the supplements& heating pad i havent, thank you. I just hate laying down like im, i just realized i think i hate it because when i wake up im always in pain. Then, i have to start my day fighting it! And at night, its already been fought & "usually" dont hurt as much. Im so glad that the kindle was suggested. My sons gave me a nook color which you can hold to your face & touch away! Maybe this is why? Glad to know im not only one! I really never sleep on my back, i thought it caused more pain. Remember, the pillows under the legs from post op, will try that. Its just the i dont want to,dread. Hot bath, pretty gown all perfect room & Yuk! No way! Maybe Im "crazy"after 30 years of pain! Glad to know im not the only one that has this problem, the bed=pain, not the crazy part! Lol gmak Thinking of bed now & it just gives me anxiety plus! Do you all(that would be ya'll for me) think that this could have anything to do with the stats that chronic pain sufferers have high rate of insomnia? And i have to ask my dr but do you
know if morphine long acting/ 24hrs can be taken @ night? Dear pooby, i know that you have aa, like me. Im so sorry. I hope these suggestions, ideas help you too. One more thing, i have a hard time with finding pillows. Did we get a clear answer on the latex?
Last edited by gmak; 11-26-2012 at 05:00 PM.
Reason: added
Btw change, i will tell you all i know about hair loss but a question first. Since you cant lay your neck down, or sleep on your sides, is the hair missing/ lessened on the back of your head? Could it be you are moving around alot ehen you sleep always on back & its breaking your hair? There is a pillow, used to be called jackson cervical pillow, like a bolster but special in that it touches just your cheek when on your side. Its built up on ends to be right heighth for side sleeping, flatter in middle for back sleeping. It doesnt touch your neck, unless you pull it down under your neck, and as i recall if you do it supports your neck in all positions. Ok, hair is affected by genes, nutrition, hormones as i understand it. My neighbor had this thinning. A dr told her to take a multi vitamin & mineral supplement, to eat an egg daily, he said albumin has to do with the molecular structure of hair & albumin in hair productsdoesnt count. She hates eggs but started eating them & since the next part has to do with you going to dr, ask if ok to eat egg daily. Her thyroid hormones were extremely low. Pituitary was putting out TSH but her thyroid wouldnt respond.Get this checked& also she was in menopause, so estrogen was gone and her testosterone was low or high, cant remember, so she takes female hormone replacement therapy now. She has millions of new hairs that are 3" & 1" long now. She saw a dermatologist first, as many people dont realize they treat hair & nails as well. I know you know that pregnant women have beautiful hair usually. He said b/c of prenatal vitamins, they eat well, & their hormones are soaring. So, im no expert,haha just a friend who remembers somewhat! We rejoice over that new hair. My mom doesnt eat b/c never hungry. Me either. The thing i do is make sure that what i do eat is good for me, somewhat! Lol thank you, gmak
I had surgery last December......and my husband bought me a Kendall fire...it kept me sane! I play words with friends Read books check email all on my back!!!;
I love my kindle! I've got a regular one, DH has the Fire, and I play/read on them both while I'm laying flat on my back... only I can't use them for more than an hour or so at a time because my arms get really sore from holding the weight. I read regular books too, usually paperbacks because they're lighter.
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~ asthma, allergies, anxiety, arthritis, back problems, high blood pressure, fibromyalgia
I use my iPod touch (hopefully soon an ipad mini) while laying in bed! It does help so much, and makes it enjoyable to be in bed because my mind isn't on my pain, it's surfing the web, or playing games! But yeah gmak I know what you mean about waking up in pain. I do too, that is the worst time of day for me as well and I fight sleep. Sometimes I'm on my iPod for hours and hours!! I've found the memory foam pillows to be the best I've ever slept on! If someone's having troubles and hasn't tried it yet, try it.
The Following User Says Thank You to Whynowthis For This Useful Post: gmak (11-27-2012)
Arthritis and bone pain typically worsen at night, so I take an antiinflammatory, muscle relaxant, Neurontin and Sinemet for my Restless Leg Syndrome, all of which help the pain and help me sleep, about an hour before bed. If anyone tolerates Benadryl, that helps too. Some bookstores have little wedge like book pillows that lay on your abdomen and hold your book or ipad, etc. so your arms can rest. I know the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver has them, and they may be able to be ordered and shipped (not sure). Sounds like a good gift to ask for!
Arthritis and bone pain typically worsen at night, so I take an antiinflammatory, muscle relaxant, Neurontin and Sinemet for my Restless Leg Syndrome, all of which help the pain and help me sleep, about an hour before bed. If anyone tolerates Benadryl, that helps too. Some bookstores have little wedge like book pillows that lay on your abdomen and hold your book or ipad, etc. so your arms can rest. I know the Tattered Cover Bookstore in Denver has them, and they may be able to be ordered and shipped (not sure). Sounds like a good gift to ask for!
YES!!! BENADRYL!!! That has saved me many times! My doctors won't prescribe me sleeping pills so if I'm really sleep deprived I take 3 benadryls, and within 30-45 minutes I'm in la-la land. BUT it makes me stay sleepy for a LONG time so I only take it if I know I can sleep for a long time, and don't have anything important to do when I wake up cause I'll have that "hangover" that sleeping pills can cause. A lot of people don't know that Benadryl is the medicine that is in Tylenol PM, and similar "nighttime" meds to make people sleep. But generic Benadryl is waaaaay cheaper than Tylenol PM. So if you ever take those expensive OTC "nighttime" meds, save yourself a few bucks and buy generic Benadryl! It's the same thing!
The Following User Says Thank You to Whynowthis For This Useful Post: workinmom572 (12-05-2012)
I find my sleep patters to be terrible. And this has been going on for years.
Sometimes I will sleep more depending on how much medication I take during the day or at night. Right now I take hydrocodone and tizanidine. So sometimes if I take a full dosage I may sleep several hours, but then I will be awake at odd hours during the night. I will look at the clock and it will be 1 oclock or 2 oclock in the morning. I will be awake for hours on end until I fall back to sleep for an hour ot two.
Then trying to do things during the daytime is a major effort. Some days I find I can't get out of bed and cant get motivated to do anything. Catching whatever sleep I can.
If I don't take my pain medications I find that I also tend to be awake hour after hour at night. Its like a vicous cycle that I cant break.
Yes at times the pain seems to be worse at nights. even when I take the pain medication..
There are times I look in the mirror and all I see are the bags under my eyes and think how terrible I look from the lack of sleep. But even when I do sleep I find that the quality of sleep is lacking a great deal as well. There doesnt seem to be a win win situation. Its like a constant losing battle.
Staring at the ceiling or watching TV in the middle of the night. Watching reruns of tv shows that Ive seen a million times already. Wondering will the night ever end and when will the sunrise.
The following user gives a hug of support to pebblebeach3: nochange (11-27-2012)
Dear pebble, i think if you can get up, not too much pain, it helps me to go ahead & get up. I, too use a touch pad small computer/ reader. I go on to healthboards or read, catch up on emails. Then try sleeping again after an hour or two, or three. Laying on the couch even with a movie. Staring @ the ceiling or reruns doesnt distract me from the pain , the anxiety that i get when i cant sleep or the anger that i cant fall back to sleep. Sometimes, i go ahead and call it morning, make coffee, eat yogurt, etc if its after 2 or 3 am. Then, i can take my meds again if after 4 hours. If i get sleepy i hurry back to bed before the sun rises for a couple of hours.I do anything i would do i the daytime, but quietly, gmak
Loathe & despise laying in bed! Anyone else? 
Re: Loathe & despise laying in bed! Anyone else? 
Re: Loathe & despise laying in bed! Anyone else? 
