More Than Half of Americans Are in So Much Pain They Can't Sleep

[marmar]

More Than Half of Americans Are in So Much Pain They Can't Sleep
A new poll shows pain robs us of sleep, setting off a vicious cycle in which sleep deprivation leads to more pain


(Bloomberg) The U.S. is a country of gaps. The wage gap. The wealth gap. And now, the sleep gap. 


The dividing line: Pain. Having chronic or fleeting pain in the prior week caused 57 percent of Americans a significant loss of sleep, according to the 2015 Sleep in America poll, released Monday by the National Sleep Foundation.

People with chronic pain said they got 42 minutes of sleep less than they needed every night. It’s a vicious cycle: Pain makes it hard to sleep, less sleep exacerbates pain.

Missing 42 minutes of sleep wouldn’t be a big deal if sleep weren’t so connected with overall well-being. People who rated their health and quality of life very good or excellent in the survey slept an average of 15 to 30 minutes longer than those who said it was good, fair or poor. .......................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-03-02/more-than-half-of-americans-are-in-so-much-pain-they-can-t-sleep

[snooper2]

1. brought to you by MyPillow

The official pillow of the National Sleep Foundation!

[PatrynXX]

45. hard pillows are better

I have Sleep Apnea and no amount of good pillows will actually fix this

More likely brought to you by the outdated 2 mattress syste that Europe laughs at. They only have one the other is built in. 900 % of my problems come from expensive bad beds.

[libodem]

2. Serious Problem

When your chronic pain wakes you up or if you can't fall asleep because of it, it is devastating to one's health.

Just being able to sleep well means everything. It renews what's left of your life.

[randys1]

76. And some people want to make getting narcotic pain killers almost impossible

Which is fine to control addiction, but terrible for people who need the stuff

[libodem]

81. If you really need it

Nothing is left over for the so called euphoria. Strictly business. An it generally only takes the edge off. Nobody gets to be pain free. You learn to live with it.

[raven mad]

89. I definitely can relate to this.

Lucky if I get 3 hours at a time - we celebrate 4 hours!

[yuiyoshida]

3. Maybe thats why things are so

messed up in this country.. on a lot of levels. I think I have a headache right now... (runs for some aspirin.)

[tridim]

5. I'd say "running for aspirin" is a bigger problem.

If I ever have a headache, which is very rare these days (as it should be, headaches are not normal) I run for a glass of water and a teaspoon of sea salt. Maybe some potassium or magnesium too. Gone and gone.

Solve the problem, not the symptom.

[yuiyoshida]

7. I should be using my computer glasses...

I am sure that's the problem right there.

[PatrynXX]

47. asprin doesn't do didly :(

especially when it borders on a migraine Aleve usually

[padfun]

56. The ONLY thing that got rid of my migraines was..

A few hits of Northern California bud.

I haven't had one in three years now, but I have felt one coming on sometimes. So I grab my pipe and grab my bag.

You do have to be careful not to cough when toking as that can really set off the migraine.

[Jackpine Radical]

4. Another case where a little weed would do wonders.

Or so I'm given to understand. *ahem*

[tridim]

6. I've heard that too, somewhere. It sounds like pretty amazing stuff!

Shame it has the side-effect of prison.

[padfun]

57. Not in blue states. Just red ones

In blue states, it is either legal or medicinal.

[Adrahil]

9. This is a true story...

My Dad passed away in 2000, and my Mom wanted to use some of his life insurance money to take one last big family vacation. So she, my wife and I, and my sister and her son all went to the UK.

One thing we did while we were there was the Summer Solstice at Stonehenge. Now we parked at 3 AM in the morning about a mile away from the site and had to walk there. That was problem, my Mom had terrible arthritis in her hip and that walk KILLED her. When we finally got there, she grabbed a hunk of fallen stone and sat.... right next to two folk smoking some prodigiously large doobies. We enjoyed the show (really, all kinds of people from all walks of life doing just about everything there), and afterwards, I was trying to figure out how we were going to get her back to the car. Turns out, this was not a problem. Sitting next to her neighbors for a few hours had solved the problem! She had no idea what made the pain go away! Later in the day, I told her the likely source of her relief, and she was shocked. But she thought it was hilarious and told anyone who listened the rest of the trip how she "got stoned at Stonehege."

Absolutely true story.

[SomeGuyInEagan]

21. "Got stoned at Stonehege."

Ever been buffaloed in Buffalo?

[Adrahil]

22. No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express there! n/t

[Manifestor_of_Light]

64. Or Shanghaied in Shanghai?

Just thought I'd ask.

[blackspade]

31. +1000

[tavernier]

8. Where are all these people?

I'm not disputing the numbers. I just don't happen to know anyone personally who is losing significant sleep due to pain. When I worked in the hospital as a med nurse, sure, there were patients who required pain meds to get through the night. But now I don't know any personally.

[Jackpine Radical]

12. Both my wife & I have multiple pain issues

& sleep disturbances. To be fair, though, some of my insomnia, along with a bunch of free-floating anxiety, has been with me since Vietnam.

[REP]

15. Hi. Nice to meet you.

I'm guessing most of us with severe, chronic pain are both used to it and used to to not talking about it. I certainly don't go up to everyone I meet or know and say, "hey, my pain is so bad it wakes me up a few times a night."

[BlancheSplanchnik]

44. this is it, right here.

I grew up with Ulcerative Colitis, a devastating disease. Humiliating and the pain is torturous.

You don't talk about it.

I was living in abuse too, from the time I was a baby. I have Complex-PTSD.

You don't talk about it.

I feel very angry when people say, "oh, that's not true because I don't know of anyone."




Edit to add: jeeeezus h christ, I'm having a reaction-- heart pounding, trembling and massive sweat--just from speaking up here !

[marym625]

54. I don't talk about my chronic pain

Or how little sleep I get because of it, to anyone but my doctor. Who wants to hear someone complain?

Just so ya know, it's "jesus christ on a cheese sandwich" hee hee

[BlancheSplanchnik]

62. LoL! I've heard jeezus christ on a cracker....

I hear it a lot, actually.........out of my own mouth! )






(I am really sorry to hear that you deal with chronic pain. .......Not bugging your friends....yeah, I know...I've lost some. It's not easy sometimes, what with having to keep an eye on yourself. :pals

[marym625]

69. Can't make kitty sad!

Kitty likes to be happy!

He's more often on a cheese sandwich than a cracker.

Yeah, it doesn't bother me not to talk about it. Better for me anyway I'm sure.



Oops. How rude of me. I forgot to say thank you and I'm sorry you suffer too.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

84. ....

Heeeeee.......


To talk or not to talk.....you've got better self control than me! Sometimes, it comes out and later, I go..... Agh, Blanche...get some duct tape, wouldja.

[marym625]

85. No, you need to talk, you should

Feel free to pm if you need to talk

[BlancheSplanchnik]

88. awwwww......

And likewise to you too, okay? Seriously!

[marym625]

90. Thank you

[pipi_k]

82. Hee hee

One of my favorites is "jumping Jesus on a pogo stick"

[BlancheSplanchnik]

83. Hey, Hi!.........

[marym625]

86. ha! good one!

[REP]

66. Also, I don't want "helpful" advice from non-doctors

I've been told many times by "helpful" non-doctors that giving up coffee would reverse my kidney failure. Not only is that silly, coffee is a "free" drink on the renal diet. Chronic pain means to many that you're either a junkie or a malingerer (or both), or you're just not trying hard enough. Or maybe it's your own fault, fatty; there's already some examples of that on this thread.

One of my "things" may or may not be a mild IBD (I've had many diagnoses; the only consistent conclusion is there's something wrong). On my worst days with it, I can only wonder at the strength of people with moderate or severe IBDs. And because of what it is, I don't really want to discuss it, even with my doctor.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

67. I am really sorry you have such health struggles.

It is hard to keep fighting. My heart always goes out to folks, but especially when I hear someone's got IBD (not to be confused with IBS). I sometimes can't believe I lived through that. Started bleeding age 7....emergency surgery age 19. Too many horror stories in between.
I've got an ileostomy. That stopped the pain and gave me a life.

You have my support.

[REP]

68. I know it's not a competition but

I'd never compare my problem with yours except for the not wanting to talk about it part I know that I'm pretty lucky there; it mostly just feels like I have appendicitis. I'm so glad the ileostomy helped you!

What I do isn't fighting - it's just going on because I don't know anything better to do.

You've got my support, too

[BlancheSplanchnik]

87. awww...tanks...

And I didn't mean it to sound like competition!

There are IBD and ostomy support sites....I read people's stories there and see that I got off easy compared to some folks.

Here's to moving forward!

[REP]

93. You didn't!

My thing is minor compared to UC. I didn't want to be one of those people who do seem to try to think no matter what, they've got it worse.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

95. me either!

I think sometimes, I actually do that.. *urk* blecch...

and I don't wanna be "that person ". LoL!

[MADem]

16. I think that number is a little ... skewed.

I do know people who endure chronic pain, but it's not six out of ten of my acquaintances. Not sure what "fleeting" pain is supposed to mean--a stubbed toe? A paper cut?

[mopinko]

26. we are the ones who lie when you ask us how we are.

agree with others here who say they dont blab is to everyone.
nobody likes to be sick, especially when it is something someone might take as a "problem between the ears."
lots of people in my life have no idea. they think i am full of energy because that is the only side they ever see. they dont see the morning after.

[DeadLetterOffice]

48. That's exactly right.

When you've got a chronic, intractable, not-gonna-get-better-really condition, you learn to lie, and smile, and fake it. Because explaining to people generally is too exhausting.

[nashville_brook]

36. chronic pain interrupting sleep right here.

more than a decade.

[redstatebluegirl]

52. My friends do not know.

I do not talk about my pain, I do not want to bring them down. I say these numbers are close if not true. People who do not suffer from chronic pain have no idea how it messes with your life.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

58. Housemate with fibro.

She finally managed to get to sleep last night around 5am. When she woke up again at 7:30, I convinced her to try and go back to bed again, rather than trying to get in to work. It's rare for her to be able to get to sleep much before 1 or 2 am even if she does use medication, which she mostly tries not to, and she has to be up most days by 7:30ish if she wants to get to work.

[MissB]

60. Dh doesn't advertise it

But yeah, there are nights and days that he can't deal with the pain of his particular type of arthritis (ankylosing spondylitis).

[irisblue]

61. hello tavernier, I'm Irisblue

I have been waiting now for 5 years for my previous employers to cover the cost of my damaged left knee; I slipped while getting a patient up. The meniscus is folded oddly, so some times the knee locks, B/c of the wear, the medial knee joint is bone on bone. Since my walking gait is thrown off, I suffer chronic LBP and I strongly think my left SI joint is moving incorrectly, based on the pain when I try to shovel the snow.....and the snow shovel fairy who lived across the street moved out, but you have to have clean walks here. Chronic pain sucks.

[Maraya1969]

63. That is why I don't understand why the article said that people who took pain meds before sleep

fared no better than the ones who didn't. The whole problem is pain that is keeping you awake.

I have tossed and turned only to get up and realize that I am in a lot of pain. So I take a painkiller and wait for a a bit and am able to go to sleep.

[mythology]

71. Some people are on the wrong meds

Or have developed a tolerance for the medicine or are having psychosomatic pain that should be dealt with without drugs. I found that when I meditated consistently I slept better. Which is unfortunate given that my knee isn't able to handle qi gong for a few more weeks (or months depending on what I can get the doctor to sign off on).

[pipi_k]

70. They're probably

all in my family.

No kidding!


I have one with Rheumatoid Arthritis pain who can't sleep

Another with diabetic neuropathy and spinal issues

Another with constant debilitating headaches (since car accident in 1995)

another with MS

And myself, although it's not actually painful, it does keep me from getting proper sleep...RLS. On any random night I can be found doing leg exercises in front of my dresser between 2 and 4 AM trying to stop the creepy crawling legs jumping all over the place feeling.

[Stargazer99]

10. Physical pain is not the only pain in this nation

The poorer you are the more psychological pain this nation will let you suffer from and what makes anyone think that doesn't keep one from sleep?

[FLPanhandle]

11. More than half of all Americans?

Seems really high.

[randome]

13. I don't know. Could it explain why we keep electing Republicans?

[hr][font color="blue"][center]A ton of bricks, a ton of feathers, it's still gonna hurt.[/center][/font][hr]

[FLPanhandle]

23. I have blamed our poor education system for Republicans

Maybe people are just too tired to think instead.

[Orrex]

41. Only high in states allowing medical marijuana.

[FLPanhandle]

49. I see what you did there

[GusBob]

14. I am one of them

After awhile you get used to it

[xchrom]

17. du rec.

[OhZone]

19. Pretty much. n/t

[olddots]

20. the drug companies create a demand for their supply

Capitalism unregulated creates this statistic .

[mopinko]

25. sleep is all.

and yes, it is a very vicious cycle. i sleep as long as my body and my dogs let me every day, but the quality is poor. i am basically sleeping my life away.
but pushing it is way worse. times in my life when i had a bell to answer in the morning are a fog of pain and depression.

[Skidmore]

27. And we are supposedly a First World nation...

imagine the suffering of those in the Third World.

I would be inclined to think that the lack of sleep and pain can be directly correlated to the inordinate demands made on everyone in terms of work hours, activity, and stress. Remember that any health issue is alway measured as loss in GDP rather than as a need for an individual to be restored.

[jamzrockz]

46. Do you really believe this number?

Ask yourself, how many people do you know that have a sleep problem in the first place? and from that number just imagine less than half is due to pain. Also you would be surprised but people in the third world have a less stressful life and thus can sleep much easier at night. Also life without electricity makes falling asleep that much easier.

This is a bullshit number and I cant believe how easily people believe things just because it was written on the internet.

[padfun]

59. Just about everyone I know

but then, I am in my late 50's. Pain and lack of sleep are normal for those of us with severe arthritis and diabetes.

[William769]

79. Which library did you get your degree from?

[greatauntoftriplets]

80. And was it in library science?

[rbrnmw]

91. haha

[Arugula Latte]

28. I'm wondering if some of this pain is reflecting the rise in obesity.

Obese people often have joint pain, and other pain.

[vkkv]

34. I'd agree with that, and

a lack of daily exercise.

[tridim]

39. Sugar, junk carbs and FDA-approved "low fat" diets cause the obesity problem.

[Bluenorthwest]

29. This is why I love my vape pen full of cannabis oil and the State that allows me to have it.

nt

[ProudProg2u]

30. Moved to Oregon Because I allways wanted to live here...

Not ever considering the medical ramifications of this state. I love Oregon that's not the problem .The problem is the Ludicrous medical, and so-called "Pain Management program" (should be called the).. Painful management program). It's completely ridiculous. The way I understand it because some young people abuse pain meds all the "OLDER PEOPLE" who really need them suffer tremendously. I have serious medical conditions that require a number of medicines. First took me six months to even see a doctor. Then I was told "we don't prescribe this combination of medicines"...? WHAT...??? after needing to take these meds for years in Cali that allowed me to function at all. Finally after jumping through serious hoops over more months I was allowed to take the meds I need (They made me travel ludicrous distances to see "Pain management Doctors" STUPID, and causes more pain and suffering. My wife needs Fentynal patches (she had neck surgery and is in incredible pain. She has to take some of my meds cause SHE IS STILL WAITING TO GO TO "PAIN MANAGEMENT"..OREGON, Please stop this war on older folks.So you have a "Youth drug abuse problem"...? There must be a better way than hurting older folks who need there meds...Thank you for listening.

[Maraya1969]

65. I hear you. Because FL used to be the narcotics supply of the nation they have no created so many

hurdles for anyone who needs pain meds to get them.

Pharmacies can only give out what the government gives them to sell, (or are regulated somehow).

I was in a waiting room once and this very sick man's caregiver told me that the doctor had called around to 6 different pharmacies looking for the strong pain meds he needed and none of them had it in stock.

I've had pharmacies tell me that they do not have the hydrocone that I take and explained that they didn't even know when they would receive more. I wonder if that was bullshit but it agrees with what that caregiver and others have told me.

[vkkv]

32. We are a sick nation,

obviously. What else is new?

[B Calm]

33. Hell I even take afternoon naps and I still suffer from arthritis.

[Jamastiene]

35. And they are banning pain relievers at an alarming rate.

The reasons they are using for banning some pain relievers are that some people ODed and messed themselves up. What about the other high percentage of people who use them as directed? Just leave them suffering? There are valid reasons to ban some drugs, if they are hurting people, but to do it because some people abused those drugs and maimed themselves is preposterous. That is punishing the good with the bad.

I live in constant pain but my doctor will barely prescribe anything to me for my migraines. He complained when I took 30 pills in 14 months. The medicine he gave me is very mild and does not work. It was just a medicine to try to keep a migraine from getting worse, not a pain reliever. He acted like I was a damn junkie. I explained that I have migraines for several days every month. That didn't seem to register with him at all. I don't even ask for anything now, because I don't want to hear the preachy judgmentalism and be ignored when I ask to try an alternative medicine that might work better.

[SheilaT]

37. I also find that figure -- more than half of all Americans -- to be

not completely believable.

I'm not doubting any of you here who tell me your chronic pain interferes with sleep, but nearly 60%?

I do know that not getting enough sleep is a huge problem, and a largely unrecognized one. People often take great pride in getting by on minimal sleep, not understanding how bad that really is for them. I'm someone who has always treasured getting plenty of sleep, and I'm remarkably healthy. I'm convinced there's a connection.

[madokie]

38. I'm one of those

it sucks to be sleep deprived. What really sucks is living in pain and the only thing that really works that doesn't have a shitpot of suckie side effects I can't deal with is the one they are trying to take off the market, hydrocodone.

[SHRED]

40. A drop of Cannabis Oil (FECO) before bedtime

Deep sleep for most people.

[Agschmid]

42. Anyone using any fitness trackers to monitor their sleep?

I've found it very helpful and it really makes me think about sleep quality, etc...

It gives helpful info:



And helps me stay on track with goals:



Im using a JawboneUP24, it's not super cheap but it's been very nice to have. Anyone else using one? How do you use it if you are?

[mopinko]

73. i have used a fitbit.

dont have one at the moment, because i keep killing/losing them. but it is nice to know why you feel like shit on any given day.

[B Calm]

43. I wished Indiana would legalize medicinal marijuana.

[Crowman1979]

50. Working people to death, and no vacation days also a factor.

[frankfacts]

94. Working through on-the-job injuries the type a stud athlete may take years off for before returning

[StarzGuy]

51. Try to sleep with neuropathy pain...

...which I have 24/7. I was diagnosed with small fiber peripheral neuropathy in both feet. Both are numb and the pain (needles and pin stabbing pain) is 24/7. Compound it with sleep apnea. Compound these with severe depression and Dysthymia (Mild, Chronic Depression). I couldn't fall asleep what so ever. Now I take morphine and have a nerve stimulator installed in my back for the pain. I take other medications for depression. I take trazodone before I "attempt" to go to sleep. Doesn't usually work for more than a few hours each night. I do awake very early usually around 5 AM take more morphine and can go back to sleep for an additional few hours. This is no way to live...it causes other health problems which compounds the initial medical issues like diabetes.

...just sayin...

[bhikkhu]

53. That's been my struggle for the last few years

leg and foot issues, and back issues, and from day to day sleeping is a struggle. If its bad for a couple days in a row and I don't sleep, everything starts to go downhill. Fortunately I think I've gotten a handle on it in the last couple of months - my back has been reasonably ok and I sleep through most nights. The last month of work was ridiculously busy - over 300 hours of work billed, but I don't feel especially wiped out.

For a long time I used melatonin, but decided after awhile that really wasn't helping, so three months without now and less trouble. I got a memory foam mattress topper for my back and I avoid heavy lifting as much as possible. I got decent shoes (Doc's on ebay) and better socks and insoles, and my feet are in good shape again. I used to have a couple glasses of wine before bed, but find that just one is better, and I sleep fine and feel better in the morning.

At 50 chronic pain is an easy thing to fall into. I've never gone around complaining, but its one of those silent struggles that you don't think about much, until a week of bad nights starts making the days really hard.

[PedXing]

55. That was certainly me this weekend!

[tavernier]

72. In my above post, I was only questioning

the numbers, not the fact that there are many people who live with pain.

If I offended anyone with chronic pain, I'm truly sorry that I added to your misery.

[dissentient]

75. Cough medicine will make you drowsy, and so will

some certain types of herbal supplements. And Advil has made me drowsy before too. I usually can sleep pretty well on my own, but those are things I noticed that make me sleepy.

I think a quality pillow makes a big difference, I recommend a pillow called "Bucky Large Duo bed pillow" . It has two sides, one harder and more firm, and the other not so firm, and more cushy.

It is made out of buckwheat hulls, best pillow I have ever found. It gives spinal support and just is so comfortable. You can find it on Amazon.

[merrily]

78. I've spoken to people who sleep every morning of my adult life. Not a one of them has mentioned

having been in too much pain to sleep. However, quite a few have mentioned not having enough time to sleep as much as they would like.

I realize that is anecdotal, but it's my anecdote and I'm sticking to it.

[undergroundpanther]

92. I got pain issues

And chronic insomnia

[bahrbearian]

96. Nothing a marijuana brownie before bed can't fix

[muriel_volestrangler]

97. The title is false; over half have experienced pain in the past week, but not sleep problems

as a result.

21% had chronic pain; another 36% had fleeting or minor pain in the week before the survey (ie 'acute' pain - not 'chronic', but not necessarily 'sharp' or 'severe', which many might take 'acute' to mean). Only 17.6% reported both a sleep problem and chronic pain - 5% said the sleep problem came before the pain, 6% after the pain, and 2.5% at the same time, and the rest couldn't remember (table 285 of this 308 page PDF: http://sleepfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2015SleepInAmerica_Pain_Sleep_Crosstabs_1.pdf )

Those who had good or very good sleep, by pain severity (presentation, slide 11: http://sleepfoundation.org/sites/default/files/2015%20SIA%20Powerpoint_3.pptx ):
No pain: 65%
Mild pain: 50%
Moderate pain: 38%
Severe/very severe pain: 22%

So pain is likely to make sleep worse (gosh, what a surprise), but "More Than Half of Americans Are in So Much Pain They Can't Sleep" is complete BS from Bloomberg.