If you suffer from acute or chronic pain, especially back pain, the thought of a good night’s rest may be only a dream. Most adults need 7 to 9 hours a night for the best amount of sleep, although some people may need as few as 6 hours or as many as 10 hours of sleep each day. Oftentimes, individuals who suffer from pain associated from back conditions experience additional issues with insomnia and sleeping disorders. According to the National Sleep Foundation, pain and sleep problems are significant. In the adult population, about 15% of those surveyed reported experiencing chronic pain. In older adults, the number increases to over 50%. Among those with pain, 2/3 reported poor or disrupted sleep.
Sleep is one of the most critical ways that we renew our mental and physical energy on a daily basis. While there are many conditions and environmental factors that cause sleep problems, disturbances in sleep can intensify many conditions – including back pain. If you suffer from chronic pain or acute back pain and it is effecting the quality of your sleep, it is essential that you incorporate effective strategies and a treatment plan that will aid sleep deprivation from interfering with work, driving and social activities.
Pain and Sleep Facts:
- Each year, at least 40 million Americans suffer from chronic, long-term sleep disorders, and an additional 20 million experience occasional sleeping problems.
- 2/3 of chronic pain sufferers have sleep problems.
- Sleep deprivation accounts for an estimated $16 billion in medical costs each year, while the indirect costs due to lost productivity and other factors are much greater.
- Sleep complaints and related daytime symptoms occur in 54–70% of adult rheumatoid arthritis patients.
- One study estimated that the prevalence of sleep disturbance among people with low-back pain is 58.7%.
- 75% of patients with fibromyalgia complain of sleep disturbances.
Causes Of Sleep Problems When You Are In Pain
If you live with pain, you know that sometimes your only relief is when you are asleep. However, some people’s pain prevents them from finding a way to become comfortable – oftentimes leading to the development of sleep problems. These problems not only result in overtiredness, but may cause pain to worsen. Here are a few conditions that may trigger a sleep problem to develop:
- Anxiety and depression can make it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep. Consequent sleep loss can lead to increased pain. Anxiety and depression may also increase a person’s sensitivity to pain.
- Some breathing related sleep disorders are associated with obesity – and obesity is also linked with back pain. Sleep disorders like sleep apnea interfere with normal sleep patterns, leading to insufficient sleep and poor sleep quality.
- Limb movement disorders, such as restless legs syndrome, might further disrupt the normal sleep pattern.
- Fibromyalgia can cause pain throughout the body. It is also linked with fatigue, anxiety and sleep problems.
- Many prescription medications can impair the quality of your sleep. For instance, medications for conditions such as high blood pressure, epilepsy and ADHD may also cause sleep problems.
If you’d like more information on sleep and pain, take a look at the best sleep positions for back and neck pain.
