Managing Sleeping Problems Among Fibromyalgia Patients

Sleeping problems are very common among people with fibromyalgia. Despite having slept for 10 hours a night, fibromyalgia patients still feel tired and stressed.

According to scientific studies, brain activities are stimulated even while people are sleeping. Stimulation of hormones is at its most active pace during sleep. If sleeping is prevented by frequent disruptions, hormonal production falls. As a result, no neurotransmitters are available to carry out restorative functions, leaving worn out muscles unhealed.

This explains why people with insufficient or disrupted sleep wake up feeling tired and stressed. Failure to recuperate from stresses overwhelms the system, leading to higher pain sensitivity. Pervasive pain, sleeping disorders, depression, fatigue, anxiety and poor memory are all symptoms of fibromyalgia.

There are different forms of insomnia: difficulty in falling asleep, waking up in the middle of the night, inability to resume sleep, and waking up too early in the morning. Scientific findings show that addressing these sleeping problems and ensuring thorough and restorative sleep will improve fibromyalgia pain significantly.

There are available medications that improve sleep and relieve pain. Some doctors also recommend natural approaches such as improvements in lifestyle.

How to Improve Sleep Among Fibromyalgia Patients

Creating an environment conducive to sleep is the key to insomnia management. Follow these tips to create a relaxing environment at home:

• Regulate the room temperature to a comfortable level.
• Darken the bedroom. If necessary, you may also try eye masks.
• Shut of unnecessary noise.

The following lifestyle and health habits can also improve sleep:

• Take a warm bath before sleeping.
• Brush the body with loofah.
• Massage oneself to ease painful tender points.
• Practice yoga or stretching exercise.
• Listen to relaxing music.
• Decrease caffeine intake by avoiding foods or drinks like coffee, chocolate and teas.

Treating Insomnia in People With Fibromyalgia

There are several therapies for sleeping problems, including cognitive therapy, biofeedback, stress reduction and relaxation training. It is better to consult with a psychologist who specializes in sleep disorders to know the most appropriate treatment.

These therapies enable patients to handle stress better. Patients should be able to control fibromyalgia episodes. Fibromyalgia episodes may differ from the most recent ones, and the level of pain depends on psychological factors such as stress. Stressed patients tend to experience more pain. That is when sleeping difficulty comes in.

There are also remedies for fibromyalgia pain, while others treat insomnia directly. Among the medications available include sleep aids, antidepressants, prescription pain relievers, and anticonvulsants. However, no single medicine can totally control fibromyalgia pain.

It is important to note that the above therapies should be integrated into a comprehensive treatment program to completely manage sleeping problems among fibromyalgia patients. Medications, exercise, stress reduction, and cognitive behavior therapy complement one another, enabling fibromyalgia sufferers to get restful sleep.

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