Pain During Sleep

When people can't go to sleep because of pain issues, these are the usual reasons why:

- Back pain
- Headaches
- Facial pain, usually in and around the ears and jaw (called temporomandibular joint syndrome (TMJ)
- Muscoloskeletal pain, which includes arthritis and fibromyalgia
- In women, abdominal pain and premenstrual cramping
- Pain from cancer, the disease itself and its treatment

Some tips for people with chronic pain, courtesy of the National Sleep Foundation:

- Stop caffeine consumption.
- Limit alcohol intake, with no alcohol in the evening.
- Avoid vigorous exercise. However, light exercise in the afternoon can be helpful.
- Take a brief nap in the afternoon, no more that 10 to 20 minutes.
- Use of pain killers and/or sleeping pills are effective, but should be used under the supervision of a physician.
- Practice relaxation techniques, such as deep abdominal breathing.

When to seek help:
It is time to seek professional help when pain causes sleep problems two to three times a night, and you are unable to go to sleep again. There are a variety of treatments available to ease the sleep problems of chronic pain sufferers, including medication and physical therapy. Doctors may also recommend seeing a psychiatrist or psychologist.