Fibromyalgia is a condition where a person will experience all-over body pain due to their being unable to sleep because of the body pain, which is a vicious cycle. It is linked to sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia and restless leg syndrome.
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a condition that causes a person to feel an overwhelming urge to move their legs when laying down and they experience tingling, aching and itching sensations. Restless leg syndrome is classified as a neurological disorder that can impair a person’s ability to fall asleep.
Fibromyalgia and sleep disorders go hand in hand as pain causes the individual to not be able to sleep and the lack of sleep leads to more pain. If a person manages to get some proper sleep then the symptoms start to ease.
A study revealed that those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea may also have Fibromyalgia and they also found that using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was an effective treatment for both conditions. A CPAP device is a machine that supplies oxygen continuously via a face mask while you sleep to prevent any obstructed breathing.
Another study found that patients with Fibromyalgia have a high risk of developing or already having restless leg syndrome by ten fold. Sleep disruption can cause the development of RLS but also having RLS can lead to developing Fibromyalgia.
Due to the interlinking nature of all these conditions, then by treating one you can ease or prevent other conditions from developing. CPAP can treat sleep apnea and aid in a patient getting a proper night’s sleep which will in turn ease Fibromyalgia symptoms and can in turn also ease or prevent RLS. Also treating the Fibromyalgia or RLS can reduce the pain and aid in getting a proper night’s sleep.
CPAP machines have a mask that fits over the nose and mouth that provides constant airflow, keeping the airway open and the sleeper breathing throughout the night. CPAP machines also track breathing changes and that data is used by health care professionals to adjust, as needed, the air pressure as well as possibly add additional treatments or medications for maximum effectiveness. Because some of the most effective CPAP machines are rather robust and cumbersome when it comes to traveling many leave their machines at home. A travel CPAP machine is a smaller, more compact version of a traditional CPAP. They don’t include a humidifier but most people are willing to give this up for the convenience. Many of the newer travel CPAP machines also have the benefit of being able to monitor and record sleep data.
Whether you have a sleep condition that worsens your Fibromyalgia or your Fibromyalgia wrecks your sleep, sleep can improve Fibromyalgia Here are some tips to help those with Fibromyalgia improve their sleep.
- Don’t oversleep – only sleep the length of time you need to feel refreshed.
- Keep a sleep diary so you can review what woke you and other sleep factors.
- Stick to a sleep schedule.
- Use relaxation therapies – this may also improve RLS.
- Exercise regularly.
- Create a proper sleeping environment – cool temperature and a dark room.
- Avoid long daytime naps.
- Don’t go to sleep hungry or on a very-full stomach.
- Avoid caffeine prior to bed.
References: http://www.belmarrahealth.com and http://www.huffingtonpost.com
