Pain at night

In my case, it's that I have more to distract me in the day. I have peripheral neuropathy in my feet, mainly, and I am aware of the pain during the day but can get on with what needs doing. At night, I have nothing to distract me from it.

Pain at night just starts we worrying again as I can't shift about to much for fear of waking DH. Shifting about is my main means of getting relief from back panic I've taken all my meds. If I get in a good position for my back often my neck doesn't like it or my foot doesn't like it. It's very difficult if not impossible to find a pain free position.

I asked my GP about this recently. I was recovering from a broken shoulder, awful pain, especially at night. She said hormones drop and blood pools overnight as we aren’t moving about.
I needed pain relief to sleep

You are very kind Big Berthal, I've had to kick my poor other half out into a separate bad so I can toss and turn to get comfortable. Pain is easier to ignore of you're busy, I find, RosiesMaw. Hardly ever need painkillers when I'm awake but when pain wakes you up it's horrible as then you have to wait for the painkillers to kick in, they only last a few hours so not much help taking them before you go to sleep. Hoping they'll legalize cannabis in some medical form as I've heard a lot of reports that it's good for pain with fewer side effects than OTC meds.

Personally any form of pain or illness always seems much worse to me at night from a psychological point of view as well as any physical reason. I'm on my own and I fret over whether I should ring for help or would I be being a nuisance, whether the pain will subside or what happens if I leave it too late and so on.

I have arthritis, and neuropathic pain from spinal stenosis which gives me constant sciatic pain. I find a pillow under my knees if I am on my back or between my knees if I am on my side. I also have a round neck rest which relieves any neck or head pain and also allows me to get to sleep (could be psychological). The only downside is that because I am incontinent as well, changing my sleeping position stimulates the bladder and I have to go to the toilet. I have solved some of the difficulty of disturbing my DH by having single duvets so I can just "slide" out of bed without rousing him. Getting old and learning to live with it certainly involves a constant learning curve but it helps to experiment and reading Gransnet ideas often helps so thank you all.

I broke my shoulder too, Iam64, 2.5 years ago - found sleep almost impossible, and took to sleeping in my big old leather recliner. Just impossible to sleep on the "broken" side; the pain in trying to sleep on the "good" side or on my back (shoulder would "drop").

I have a long body pillow that I curl myself around - tucks under my chin, chuck my leg over so my hip/knee is supported. Lifechanging! Miss it when I stay away from home and never sleep as well.

(similar to this - www.sleepseeker.co.uk/slumberdown-little-slumbers-body-support-pillow-1-pack.html - but mine has compressed over time, I've padded out with a couple of old pillows).

A friend swears by two duvets on the bed, one for her, one for her DH. I remember all the times when I was married I'd be woken by my now ExH coming to bed and how I'd get a draught around my neck with him faffing around tucking the duvet around himself. Simple answer would have been two duvets.

I work on the premise that if pain keeps you awake at night and stops you sleeping you need to seek treatment.

I’d no idea how painful, or how long I’d be in pain and restricted NorahBone. Doing well now, hope you are

If you are in pain at night, Jess 20, then surely it makes sense to take meds before you go to bed.
They take a while to kick in anyway.

Also, for those who share a bed and are worried about disturbing other half, then if possible retire to spare room.

I agree that pain seems worse at night. I think it is because we are tired.

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I only have pain at night. During the day my hips are fine, no pain or discomfort, but as soon as I get into bed and lie down they start aching. Usually paracetamol is enough to reduce the the pain sufficiently to sleep.

I have had this problem for over 20 years. it gets no worse and no better.

REACTNOW reported

Several issues here: your blood doesn't flow as rapidly at night and whatever is causing you pain isn't dispelled as it is when you're active in daytime.

Pain is often caused at night by dehydration and with neurophy as well, the blood vessels might be slightly compromised.
Make sure you have bottled water to hand and drink before, during and when you wake with pain. Yes, you may have to get up to the loo 30 mins later but that's better than pain.

If you are diabetic, sugar can cause pain. If you can be sugar free and low carb as well, you can reduce or even stop the pain.

Dehydration can also cause cramp in addition to that caused by other factors. I often go through two 750ml bottles of water at night, depending on weather and also if I have a bout of nocturnal hypoglycemia (night sweats) common to many diabetics. Again, replacing this water loss with a good old glug of fresh water solves the problem.
I don't even need to leave my bed as I use those sipper bottle - lazy beggar!

If the pain is simply cramp; take magnesium before bed with a full glass of water.
Water is for the dehydration so common in the night. Magnesium relaxes the muscles and may help you sleep too. It's a safe remedy for cramps as long as you are not taking medication, such as some antibiotics on which magnesium may have a lessening affect.
Check with your doctor - or take the magnesium 4 - 6 hours after the antibiotic.

Grandma2002

I have arthritis, and neuropathic pain from spinal stenosis which gives me constant sciatic pain. I find a pillow under my knees if I am on my back or between my knees if I am on my side. I also have a round neck rest which relieves any neck or head pain and also allows me to get to sleep (could be psychological). The only downside is that because I am incontinent as well, changing my sleeping position stimulates the bladder and I have to go to the toilet. I have solved some of the difficulty of disturbing my DH by having single duvets so I can just "slide" out of bed without rousing him. Getting old and learning to live with it certainly involves a constant learning curve but it helps to experiment and reading Gransnet ideas often helps so thank you all.

I too have spinal stenosis, but 6 sessions with a chiropractor has resolved all the issues.
I have had no back pain at all since then. I might need more sessions in the future if the pain comes back, but it's fine at the moment.

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