[terralyn]

I read an article about RSD affecting the body's limbic system and insomnia is definitely a part of it as well.
My question is how many of you experience it. I not only have trouble sleeping on days when my pain is managable..I am am having trouble sleeping period.
Is this part of having RSD?

[Imahotep]

I can't sleep now.

There's usually an apparent reason like pain, tremor, or anxiety but none of these seem to apply right now except a little anxiety. This is a recurring problem for me and tends to run in streaks of a few days or weeks. Falling asleep is much more difficult with the RSD. It also seems to take a few seconds longer once I start drifting off until I'm really asleep and impervious to normal sounds. Some of it is probably just age since I'll sometimes snore as I relax and it awakens me.

It's easy to worry though.

[birchlake]

Insomnia is an extremely common symptom of CRPS. Or for anyone suffering with chronic pain for that matter.

I use trazadone (desyrel) and it certainly helps, but it is still a problem.

I'm often up in the middle of the night. Boy, television programming sucks at 3:00 in the morning!!

[terralyn]

Originally Posted by birchlake

Insomnia is an extremely common symptom of CRPS. Or for anyone suffering with chronic pain for that matter.

I use trazadone (desyrel) and it certainly helps, but it is still a problem.

I'm often up in the middle of the night. Boy, television programming sucks at 3:00 in the morning!!

Have you had any unwanted side effects from the trazadone?

[birchlake]

Originally Posted by terralyn

Have you had any unwanted side effects from the trazadone?

No, most doctors I've talked to feel trazadone is a pretty safe drug that has a pretty good reputation for minimal side effects.

It is commonly prescribed for sleep, not so much for mood any more although I use it for both.

[painman2009]

i sleep when my body can't physically cope with stating awake. but even then its hard. oxycodone keeps me up and hyper. while lyrics will knock me out hours later so til like 2-3 am I'm wide awake then;konk!!!and that gives me 2 hours of sleep (if I'm lucky). Pain is always in the way. two nights ago the pain was so bad I couldn't lay down and get positioned right. with ever way i turned the red affected areas rubbed the blanket , sheet to the warmth of my wires skin was too much to bare. I finally fell out crying myself to sleep and then it was only an hour and I've been up since. RSD and insomnia go hand and hand

[terralyn]

Originally Posted by painman2009

i sleep when my body can't physically cope with stating awake. but even then its hard. oxycodone keeps me up and hyper. while lyrics will knock me out hours later so til like 2-3 am I'm wide awake then;konk!!!and that gives me 2 hours of sleep (if I'm lucky). Pain is always in the way. two nights ago the pain was so bad I couldn't lay down and get positioned right. with ever way i turned the red affected areas rubbed the blanket , sheet to the warmth of my wires skin was too much to bare. I finally fell out crying myself to sleep and then it was only an hour and I've been up since. RSD and insomnia go hand and hand

That sounds like me on saturday night... also oxy does the same thing to me

[RNcrps2]

Sounds like me all the time. i was told its because at night your brain & body are settled down and are able to focus on the pain. Distractions during the day help me to deal with the pain. I am sensitive to medications so am limited. I still find epsom salt baths help calm it down some. momof4

[terralyn]

Originally Posted by RNcrps2

Sounds like me all the time. i was told its because at night your brain & body are settled down and are able to focus on the pain. Distractions during the day help me to deal with the pain. I am sensitive to medications so am limited. I still find epsom salt baths help calm it down some. momof4

I will have to try that! Thanks!

[pg2005]

I had trouble with insomnia shortly after diagnosis, then went into a brief stretch of time where I slept all the time. I think that was med related. Now I'm back into being an insomniac. Nothing seems to help so I dont have any advice in that department. Just wanted to let you know you're not alone.