For many of us, the nighttime is a time for rest and relaxation. After a long day of hard work, it feels good to put your feet up with some hot food and sit in front of the television to escape from the world for an hour or so. Unfortunately, some of us don’t get this full experience due to increased pain levels during the evening hours. If you suffer from a chronic disorder such as arthritis or fibromyalgia, you will know exactly what I’m talking about. How can you feel better at night and get a good sleep when everything seems to ache?
One of the first things to ask yourself about your nighttime routine is what do you eat and drink. If you drink alcohol right before trying to sleep, you will likely toss and turn quite a bit. Likewise, try to avoid heavy or spicy food before bedtime. While it may taste good going down, it will probably not be as friendly while it is trying to digest as you’re lying down.
Another thing to ask yourself is how old your mattress is. Mattresses do wear out and can become lumpy and apply pressure to different areas of the body, making them uncomfortable and causing pain. If you cannot afford a new mattress, look into a memory foam mattress pad. They are considerably cheaper and can be purchased with the aid of coupons at many retailers both in person and online.
Check to make sure that your bedroom is conducive to sleep. If rooms are too bright or warm, it can cause the body to reject sleep and may cause more pain than you were previously in. Always make sure to try and avoid using electronics right before bed as well, as the blue light generally disrupts your body’s natural sleep cycle.
Also, make sure that you have good pillows. A lot of the pain we feel at night or upon waking up is due to spinal and neck pain caused by old, lumpy, or insufficient pillows. If you have pain in other places as well, try using other pillows to cushion the contact you have with the bed. You may also want to try a heating pad.
If you have pain at night, come into DiBella Chiropractic in Gastonia and see what a neck and spine adjustment can do for you. Until then, sweet dreams!
