Why do neuropathic symptoms affect your sleep?
Patients with peripheral neuropathy often suffer from sleep disturbances. This is more common among diabetic peripheral neuropathy patients. They find it more difficult to manage pain & sleep at the same time.
The chain of pain and sleeplessness continues, but how long? Is there any way to break the cycle? Let’s have a look at the basics of neuropathic pain & sleep disturbances. We’ll see why they’re linked and what you can do about it.
Is peripheral neuropathy causing sleep disturbances?
Yes. Peripheral neuropathic pain is severe enough to impact sleep patterns negatively. Especially patients with familial amyloid polyneuropathy may go through pain aggravation and burning sensations at rest.
Peripheral neuropathy is a group of nerves or a nerve outside of the brain and spinal cord dysfunctions or gets injured. The nerves get defective because of peripheral neuropathy. Thus, we can easily conclude that one cannot fall asleep if severe pain is experienced. As peripheral neuropathy and sleep disturbances correlate, the symptoms of pain only get worse. It is because the sensitivity of pain correlates with the sensitivity of insomnia.
The common treatments for neuropathic pain are Gabapin, Gabapentin 300mg, and so on. Patients using Gabapentin have reported that they’ve started sleeping well. However, you should prefer using this oral medication after consulting the doctor.
Why does neuropathy pain worsen during nighttime?
Those who experience neuropathic pain have reported that the symptoms worsen at night. Certain neuropathy symptoms like abnormal sensations & touch hypersensitivity in legs/feet lead to sleep difficulties. Thus, normal sleep pattern is disturbed and patients may find it difficult to initiate sleep or stay asleep.
Medications like Gabapentin 400mg might be prescribed to get this stress under control. Besides this, the patient may be recommended to practice physical therapies, cognitive-behavioral therapies, and meditations for reducing the pain.
Neuropathy patients often have poor sleep quality – Here’s why!
Neuropathy causes pain based on the types of nerves involved. The pain worsens during the night because of the discomfort or the pins and needles, burning, or tingling sensations. Due to this, the patient cannot sleep well and undergo frequent nighttime awakenings. We can easily conclude that it is difficult to sleep throughout the night due to peripheral neuropathic pain. Using Gabapentin 800mg on prescription can help relieve neuropathic pain & so the disrupted sleep cycle may be back on the track.
5 Simple & Effective Tips to Improve Sleep Quality
Neuropathic pain-relieving medications are also available & you may try some handy remedies along with oral medicines. It will help in faster recovery from peripheral neuropathy & you may regularize your sleep cycle too. Here are some easy-breezy ones you should give a try:
Try different sleeping positions
Sometimes, the painful sensations can be minimized by simply altering the sleeping positions. For instance, the sleeping position extending your spine decompresses the nerves responsible for controlling sensations in the legs and lower limbs.
You may try sleeping on a recliner sofa or lying on your back with a pillow under your legs. Also, sleeping on either side with a pillow in-between your legs can provide relief.
Relieve stress
Patients may not be sleeping well because of certain stressful conditions going on in their life. Reducing stress by counseling experts or spending time with your favorite people may work as therapy. You may also get indulged in your favorite activities.
Limit caffeine intake
You may not realize if it is neuropathic pain or your caffeine intake that isn’t letting you sleep. Try limiting your caffeine intake before at least 6 hours of bedtime. It will help you fall asleep as expected and allows neuropathy medications to be effective.
Reduce nerve compression during daytime
If you’re someone working hard on your physique then you’ll likely experience neuropathic pain, especially in the evening. Those having extreme pain in the lower body may feel elevation in the pain. It can be reduced by not walking a lot during the day. Such pain can be compressed by using a wheelchair or wheeled walker. Doing so will possibly make it easier to get sound sleep at night.
Practice relaxation techniques
Meditation, exercising, listening to calming music, performing breathing exercises, etc are some of the underrated relaxation techniques for good sleep. It is equally important to make yourself comfortable in the bedroom that makes you forget everything else. You can focus on sleep and keep sleep disturbances at bay.
Besides trying the above-mentioned techniques, you may make nominal lifestyle changes by figuring out your routine. After all, some changes must be made & some wrongs need to be made right if you’re looking for improvements. Neuropathic patients must be mindful regarding their day & nighttime routines. And if sleep is getting affected then act fast!
Wrapping it up
What are you up to with peripheral neuropathy and sleep disturbances? Have you consulted a doctor yet? We hope this blog helps you get an overview of what this neuropathic pain is all about & why it is a culprit in not letting you sleep well.
You may reach out to your doctor if you haven’t done it yet & start using effective oral treatments like Generic Lyrica.