neuropathy pain -doctor defies drug makers, unveils neuropathy nerve restoration program-neuropathy and sleep.
It’s four in the
morning and you are still awake. You have been in bed and you should have been
asleep ages ago. Your neuropathy pain
alarm will go of in only a few hours, and you are dreading the long day ahead
that you will have to spend completely exhausted.
If you suffer from
peripheral neuropathy, this scenario is probably all too familiar. Insomnia or
lack of sleep affects almost half of the overall population, but among
neuropathy sufferers, that ratio jumps to over seventy percent.
Experts recommend between
seven and nine hours of sleep for most adults, regardless of their age or
gender, an intimidating goal if you are someone whose chronic pain keeps them
up at night.
Neuropathic pain can
intensify in the evening hours, both in reality and in perception fewer
distractions of the day can cause a sufferer to focus more on their pain the
closer they get to bedtime.
Research suggests that
sleep apnea, a common cause of insomnia, can actually cause peripheral
neuropathy, as well. Beyond a mere relationship, studies have shown that apnea
is a high-risk condition among the insulin-resistant, which could likely be
affecting incidents of neuropathy among diabetics in very direct ways.
Insomnia from
neuropathy can perpetuate its own problem, too. Not only is neuropathic pain
prodigious when it comes to nighttime restlessness, but the resulting lack of
sleep can make the pain even worse!
Rest is essential to
recovery and treatment, and lack of sleep can lower your pain threshold
drastically. You need that sleep, so what can you do? There are several steps
you can stake if your neuropathy is keeping you awake at night.
You clinician can work
with you to best help your specific situation, but here are some guidelines to
get you started.
· Do
your best to keep a regular sleeping schedule. Be persistent! Getting to bed
and getting up at the same time each day is one of the best ways to train your
body to sleep correctly.
· Limit
your intake of caffeine and any medication that incorporates a stimulant or
non-drowsy, especially in the evening hours.
· Avoid
heavy foods in the evening. Our bodies metabolize food for hours after we eat,
giving us a boost of energy! Energy is great when we need it, but can be a pain
when we don’t. Many cultures eat their biggest meal of the day in the morning
and only a small snack at dinner time for this reason. Try it out!
· Try
turning off the TV and computer a few hours before bed. Mileage varies from
person to person, but electronics tend to stimulate the senses. Try a book or
quiet conversation, instead.
· Adjust your environment to be ideal for
sleeping. Layer your covers to ensure you stay warm but not hot, and minimize
light and noise.
There are a number of
herbal and natural sleep aids as well which may help you fall asleep quickly.
Sleep expert Elizabeth Shannon recommends entertaining a number of
stress-relief methods, psychological conditioning, and homeopathic solutions
for insomnia before resorting to pharmaceutical sleep aids, which can often
form dependencies and, over time, exacerbate the problem associated with
restlessness.
Always be cautious with
medications, and consult your specialist clinician or other doctor before
medicating. Always remember, altering your sleep pattern won’t happen overnight
so as to speak.
It could be three to four
weeks before any changes you make to your routine begin to have meaningful
impact on your success getting to and staying asleep, and don’t be surprised if
your restlessness gets worse before it gets better.
Contact us, at
neuropathy solutions and we can help
you find a clinician in your area and give you even more neuropathy nerve pain information about how to get the rest you
need while suffering from neuropathy.
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