sleep difficulty due to chronic pain
 

I suffer from Fibro, RSD, and meralgia paresthetica. Due to the pain, I have difficulty falling asleep. Most sleep meds don't really work well. Tried ambien, trazadone,etc. The only drug seems to help (at least to fall asleep) is 6mg xanex. However I really still get awake several times and don't get a really restful sleep. I am trying to find something natural. It was suggested that I need to reset my adrenals by using phosphatidyl serine - so I bought it . Very expensive - and when I opened the bottle they are huge gel caps I'll never be able to swallow.
Now I read that this phosphatidyl serine is for memory problems. The literature on it did not mention anything about sleep or reset of adrenals.

Thinking of melatonin now. Investigating various types. Found a natural liguid melatonin nano plex from pr labs. It is cultured with probiotics and is not from an animal source. Anyone have any ideas about these products ---melatonin and phosphatidyl serine ?

This is a great forum. I have many more questions but don't want to overwhelm everyone at once. Since I have chronic pain and do not respond to ANY pain meds I am desperate for relief. I have tried a few natural products but had no relief. Thus I am now really going to dig deeper to try and discover something to help.
That's plenty for now. I could go on forever. It's late and my arms ache to type any longer.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can respond to this post.

one thing i have learned about melatonin is it really does help with sleep but always start out with the lowest dose. (300-600mcg (micrograms) is often enough for most people, and doesnt leave you feeling groggy the next day.

here is some good info about Melatonin INCLUDING IMPORTANT WARNINGS related to is use

and here is info on phosphatidylserine

Hello Sydney...
 

I can relate... I have MP too, only right now it is "dormant" mostly.
Mine is from a C-section (which had an exploratory at the same time looking
for a tumor) when my son was born 25 yrs ago.

I get twinges only now and then after using Lidoderms for a while. I guess the anesthetic actually put the nerve to "sleep" for me.

One thing that chonic pain patients can benefit from is magnesium.
I have a thread here on that subject that I am currently building. I haven't gotten to the receptor part yet...so I will just briefly state that magnesium closes the ion channels in the NMDA receptors that signal pain. Check that thread, for dosing, and types that work best.

Magnesium also promotes restful sleep, relaxes muscles that are tense, and
can help people with bruxism (grinding of the teeth).

If you don't mind, if you list your medications for me (and you can use PM if you'd rather privacy) I can look up for you if any of them are contributing
to your difficulties by depleting certain vitamins/minerals.

Chemar's suggestion for melatonin is good too. BetaBlockers for blood pressure block this hormone. The new dosing schedules are .6mg at bedtime one hour before retiring. It takes a few days to set up and work for you.
To the best of my knowledge, all melatonin now is safe, and manufactured, and does not come from animal sources anymore.

Getting restorative sleep is very hard for fibro/RSD patients. You enter into a viscious circle of more pain leading to less sleep...and quality of life goes
out the window.