Catching those Zzzzz ….

There is nothing quite like the blissful feeling of getting into bed at the end of a long, tiring day, ready to rest and relax prior to another busy day. This is a feeling most of us take for granted, and for those suffering from the seemingly constant pain of fibromyalgia, an unbroken, restful night’s sleep can feel like a luxury indeed.

Fibromyalgia is of course an increasingly common condition which causes musculo-skeletal pain all over the body, or located in one place depending on the person’s particular case. Alongside this, there are other problems which go hand in hand with not being able to rest or be free of pain, such as sleep issues and mood issues. Basically, fibromyalgia is not a condition to be taken lightly, and when you’re not getting adequate rest on top of everything else, life can certainly bring you down.

The good news is that there many different methods you can try to alleviate pain and get a better night’s sleep, which should help you feel in a better frame of mind and body the next morning. Chiropractic has been shown to be very effective in cases of fibromyalgia, helping to relieve chronic pain and relax the mind. Through gentle manual manipulations and stretching exercises, the muscles, tendons, and joints are massaged and realigned, helping to bring relief to the sufferer. Here at Optimal Life, we recognise the importance of living a life as free from fibromyalgia pain as is possible, and Chiropractor Dr Scott Wustenberg is experienced at helping such individuals, with chiropractic treatment at the heart of all we do.

Of course, there are plenty of self-help methods you can try to go alongside chiropractic treatment, which could help you switch off and relax enough to let those zzzzz come into your life.

Avoiding any kind of stimulant is a good idea before bed in general, such as anything caffeine containing or alcohol. On top of this you need to look at your sleeping environment and see if there is anything that is making you uncomfortable, such as temperature or darkness levels; if there is the tiniest thing affecting your sleep, identify it and rectify it!

On top of this, it’s important to look at nutrition and its close effects on quality of sleep. A lack of protein in a diet, poor digestion, and a low intake of vitamin B can all have an effect on sleep, so looking at your diet, and in particular how you can make sure you get the right amount of vitamin B in your daily foods, is very important.

Relaxation before bed is also key to helping you be able to switch off, so try a warm bath, which will also help alleviate aches and pains, perhaps using bath salts to add a bit of luxury. A massage can also work wonders to reduce tension, as well as a stretching routine before bed. It has been shown that stretching regularly before you go to sleep can actually help you head towards those night-time dreams a little faster.

Never go to bed with your phone at the side of you, the TV on, or any kind of device which will keep your mind alert, so leave them somewhere else, and if you need your phone for the alarm to wake you the next morning, put it on silent; the alarm will still ring even in silent mode.

These handy tips should help you relax and release tension before you head to sleep, Fibromyalgia isn’t a pleasant condition, however there is certainly help at hand to make life much more positive, so be sure to grab it with both hands.