CRPS & Sleeping
 

Hi All. My boyfriend has CRPS and has had it for a few years. I've known this wonderful man for over 25 years and he is the love of my life. We've been in love with each other for that long and finally our lives have come together that we are able to be together. Its an amazing love story for sure

He has been totally upfront and honest with me about the CRPS and how he suffers every day and that there is never a moment that he doesnt have pain. He's taught me about this awful disease and I've done reseach on my own. He has a terrible time sleeping and struggles to get 3 hours a night. After about 3 months his body gives up and he sleeps for about 3-4 days straight only waking to eat and then falls right back to sleep.

I joined this forum because I wanted to continue learning about CRPS and what steps I can take to help and support him, especially during times when his pain is spiked.

Any advice or comments would be appreciated. Thank you!!

First off I commend you for taking the initiative to learn more to better understand your boyfriend's condition. I wish I was that lucky! I can say that I too struggle with sleeping....it seems almost impossible some days. My dr recently started me on a low dose of trazadone at bedtime and I have slept about 70% of the nights since. This is after having tried all sorts of otc sleeping meds, herbal supplements, prescription sleep meds. I think it's a matter of trial and error....what works for one may not work for someone else. Also, I've noticed that as my condition changes so do my sleep patterns.....it makes me wonder how I'll ever be able to return to work. Good luck to you and your boyfriend!

Hi Faith I think when looking at sleep and CRPS it's important to take a multi-modal approach. Finally, I am getting there with sleep thanks to a good pain management doctor and occupational therapist and lots of persistence on my part. Start with considering medical management and whether your boyfriend is getting adequate pain relief from his night time medications, including whether he is on meds like anticonvulsants (gabapentin or Lyrica), antidepressants (eg trazone or endep) and other meds. If he's the right type of meds it will help slow his nervous system down and have the added side effect of making him drowsy at night.

It may also be important to look at the position/environment/ he's sleeping on/and sleep hygiene issues. Different people accommodate their painful areas in different ways. For example, depending on what area of the body is affected some people sleep in recliners or use pressure care mattresses on top of their beds, or lots of supporting pillows to support a limb etc. As far as sleep hygiene goes, unfortunately your boyfriend's current crash and burn cycle will be self perpetuating for further bad sleep. Sorry to say that.... I am sure he knows already and is just trying to survive day-to-day. At some stage, the only way of improving it will be to have the same getting up time regardless of how much to sleep he has had if any. It is the time you get up which trains your circadian cycle. If you Google's sleep hygiene and circadian cycles you'll find some more information. Sleep can get much better if you tackle one bit of the problem at a time.
Good luck!