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Sleep is often the most peaceful time of the day for most people, but for millions around the world, bedtime is the start of a nightly battle with throbbing pain. From numb limbs to nerve tingling, nighttime pain is more common than most people realise.
But why does it intensify at night when we lie down? To gain a perspective of what is happening inside the brain and nerves during sleep, OnlyMyHealth spoke with Dr Pradeep Kumar, Associate Director, Neurology, Apollo Hospitals Lucknow on what causes pain during sleep. Read below to know the reasons, relationship and ways to manage pain during sleep.
What Causes Pain During Sleep?-1750768641154.jpg)
Sleep is often known for its pain-relieving properties, but sometimes several conditions lead to sleep, or poor sleep exacerbates pain. Be it hips, legs, or even the head, these factors can lead to pain that can keep you awake throughout the night.
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, having short or disturbed sleep can cause hyperalgesia (an increased sensitivity to painful stimulation) and the development or exacerbation of spontaneous pain symptoms, like muscle pain and headache.
According to Dr Kumar, “Pain is not just a physical sensation; it’s deeply connected to how our brain interprets it.”
Some Pain Factors Include:
- Chronic Pain: Conditions like arthritis, fibromyalgia, endometriosis and chronic lower back pain cause continuous acute pain. While it persists throughout the day, it intensifies at night as external distractions are reduced to a minimum, even low-level pain becomes more noticeable.
- Mental Disorders: Mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and stress, while not a direct factor in causing pain, do exemplify the existing pain monumentally.
- Sleep Disorders: Conditions like sleep apnea, snoring, restless leg syndrome, and hypnic jerks cause people to frequently face interrupted sleep incidents, leading to pain like migraine and other headaches.
- Environmental Factors: At night, when most of the factors stop existing, reasons like blue light sensitivity and extreme noise can cause disrupted sleep patterns, increasing pain sensitivity.
- Hormonal Changes: A rise in Cortisol, the body’s natural anti-inflammatory hormone, dips during sleep, causing more sensitivity to pain
How Poor Sleep Makes Pain Worse?
Sleep is the body’s natural way to reset and unwind. Absolutely. “Sleep and pain feed off each other in a vicious cycle. It also increases levels of inflammatory markers, which can further aggravate chronic conditions,” says Dr Kumar. Poor sleep patterns over a long time can lead to low secretion of endorphins- the body’s natural pain control mechanisms.
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What Changes in the Brain Causes Pain At Night?-1750768663461.jpg)
Dr Kumar explains, “As the brain goes into the state of deep sleep, it tries to ‘reset’ in neural circuits. But when you are already in pain, this process is disrupted, leading to more pain.”
“Moreover, the thalamus, the brain’s region responsible for relaying pain signals, goes into overdrive when pain is already there, making it a vicious cycle. This means your brain might amplify pain signals, especially in people with chronic pain disorders. It’s like turning up the volume on a bad radio signal,” he added.
However, people with pre-existing neurological hypersensitivity conditions like migraine, fibromyalgia, or neuropathy may experience pain more intensely due to a lowered pain threshold at night.
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Do Nerve-Related Conditions Cause More Pain?
Nerve-related illnesses like Diabetic neuropathy, Sciatica, and Post-herpetic neuralgia (pain caused by damaged or irritated nerves) seem to worsen the most during the night. This is because when the body is stationary, the blood flow to nerves slows down, causing burning, tingling, or electric-like pain, which worsens when the body is still.
According to Dr Kumar, “These conditions worsen during inactivity because blood flow and movement help regulate nerve signals. When you’re still in bed, the nerves start misfiring, causing sharp, electric-like pain, leading to poor or no sleep.”
How to Sleep Better at Night:
- Establish a Sleep Routine: To avoid pain-circuits, establish consistent bedtime routines.
- Limit screen time: Blue light emitted by screens like laptops and mobile phones is known to reduce melatonin levels, the sleep hormone needed for good sleep. Try to keep the screens aside 3-4 hours before bedtime.
- Medications: Talk to your doctor to take low-dose antidepressants to reduce nerve pain, aiding sleep, and making a big difference.
- Use Supportive Bedding: While sleeping, the right posture is very important. While sleeping, keep your legs a little elevated and switch to an orthopaedic mattress for added support.
Conclusion: Prioritise Sleep-1750768683938.jpg "pain in sleep")
Millions of people silently endure the wrath of various pains, increased by a lack of sleep. While simply talking about sleeping better cannot be possible, it is important to keep a few habits consistent. blaming stress or age. But the truth is, neurological factors, hormonal changes, and lifestyle habits all influence how we experience pain during sleep. If pain is consistently interfering with rest, it’s not just a sleep issue; it’s a health issue worth investigating.