ANCSLEEP BLOG

Insomnia is the inability to go to sleep. Primary insomnia means there is no underlying reason why you cannot go to sleep, but you are simply having trouble getting a good night's rest. Secondary insomnia is an identifiable cause that is preventing you from going to sleep. 

One common secondary cause is painsomnia. Painsomnia is a term that combines the words pain and insomnia, and refers to insomnia caused by pain. Paincan making sleeping almost impossible, as you are unable to relax enough to go to sleep. Not only does painsomnia make it impossible to sleep, but having a lack of sleep can make pain symptoms worse. So it very much is a double edged sword, the relationship between sleep and pain.

Continue reading to find out more about painsomnia and what are some steps you can take to reduce the disruptions you currently face. 

Chronic pain is a debilitating aspect of life that involves discomfort, inflammation, and other chronic illnesses that impact everyday life. Not only does chronic pain impact daytime function, but also negatively impacts the bodies' ability to go to sleep. Here is some information on what pain is, common sleep disturbances, and some coping strategies to deal with pain in order to sleep better. 

How much pain are we in?

Pain-related sleep loss is a real thorn in the side of most adults in America. The 2015 Sleep in AmericaTM Poll found that 21% of Americans experience chronic pain. It also found that 36% of people have experienced acute pain in the last week.

The bottom line? It indicates that more people were in pain than weren’t in pain within the last week. If you are reading this, you are likely in the majority (pain) category.

The question is why we are in so much pain. Some common factors crop up:

• Desk jobs (sitting all day) is not good for our health
• We are spending record amounts of time sitting in front of screens rather than being active
• We have an epidemic of obesity, and weight is a strong contributing factor to chronic pain
• Stress is a considerable factor in people’s lives and also is a strong contributor to pain
• Sports and high activity leads to injuries
• Finally, some of us are unlucky with genetics and inherit weak backs, necks, knees, etc.

The question is, beyond being a nuisance in your life, what else is wrong with pain?

Pain is a common issue that many adults face, and it greatly impacts our quality and quantity of sleep. Chronic pain can really hinder your ability to get a good night’s sleep, which makes it harder to heal, and creates many types of complications. Here is an overview of how muscles and pain interact with sleep, and some tips for how to improve your sleep, even in the presence of pain.

The Pain Epidemic

In the United States, there is an epidemic of chronic pain. The 2015 Sleep in AmericaTM Poll found that 21% of Americans experience chronic pain. It also found that 36 percent of people have experienced acute pain in the last week. Some contributing to this pain epidemic are:

• Sitting all day at desk jobs is not good for our health
• Increased inactivity due to increased screen time
• Obesity
• Stress
• Injuries from sports and high activity
• Genetics and inherit weak backs, necks, knees, etc.

Obviously, pain is an issue because it makes life miserable.

How Much Are We In Pain?

Pain-related sleep loss is a common problem in society. The 2015 Sleep in AmericaTM Poll found that 21% of Americans experience chronic pain. It also found that 36% of people have experienced acute pain in the last week.

The question is why are people in so much pain? Some contributing factors include:

• Sitting all day at a desk is not good for our health
• Increased screen time leads to less physical activity
• Obesity epidemic 
• Stress
• Sports and high activity that lead to injuries
• Genetics 

With so many people experiencing pain, there is a high likelihood that they are also experiencing sleeplessness as pain and sleep are closely related. Continue reading to learn more about the impact of pain on sleep.