Fibromyalgia, Neuropathy And Sleep Disorders

Today's post from belmarrahealth.com (see link below) looks at a subject that worries many people living with neuropathy and related diseases such as fibromyalgia or restless leg syndrome, that being, why their sleep is so often disturbed, either by pain, or tingling, or sleep apnoea and other problems. Granted the article concentrates on fibromyalgia and there are people who deny a link between fibromyalgia and neuropathy but they are both conditions of the nervous system and more or less anything said in this article can apply to patients with other nerve damage/sleep-disorder problems.

Fibromyalgia and sleep disorders: Link between sleep apnoea, insomnia and restless legs syndrome
By: Bel Marra Health  Friday, November 20, 2015

Fibromyalgia is linked with sleep disorders such as sleep apnoea, insomnia and restless legs syndrome. Fibromyalgia is a condition where a person experiences all-over pain and stiffness, from the joints to the muscles. Fibromyalgia can also lead to sleep disorders due to patients being unable to sleep because of high levels of body pain.

Fibromyalgia and sleep disorders seem to go hand in hand. Pain causes the individual to not sleep and the lack of sleep leads to more pain, and so on and so forth. On the other hand, if a person with fibromyalgia can manage to get proper sleep, they can see a reduction in their related symptoms.

Although there is still plenty to learn about fibromyalgia, much research has come to light that reveals a link between cases of fibromyalgia and sleep disorders, such as sleep apnoea, insomnia and restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Earlier study linked fibromyalgia and insomnia

In a previous study, carried out by Norwegian researchers, a link between sleep problems and an increase risk of fibromyalgia in women was uncovered. They noted that the more severe insomnia was, the higher the risk for the women to develop fibromyalgia. The findings were based on more than a decade of research and were published in Arthritis and Rheumatism.

Researchers included 12,350 women over the age of 20 who did not have a movement disorder or musculoskeletal pain. Over the course of the study 327 women developed a syndrome. Dr. Paul Mork, study co-lead, said, “Our findings indicate a strong association between sleep disturbance and fibromyalgia risk in adult women. We found a dose-response relation, where women who often reported sleep problems had a greater risk of fibromyalgia than those who never experienced sleep problems.”

Fibromyalgia common in obstructive sleep apnea patients

Another previous study revealed that those who suffer from obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may also have fibromyalgia. They also found that the use of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) could be an effective treatment for both conditions. A CPAP device is a machine that is worn as a face mask during sleep and administers continuous air so there is no obstructed breathing, which can prevent sleep apnea.

Data was collected from 900 patients who had OSA. They found that 15 percent of the patients also had fibromyalgia – the majority of whom were men. Fibromyalgia generally affects more women than men, so it was interesting to find that in cases of sleep apnea fibromyalgia becomes dominant in men.

The findings were published in the European Journal of Internal Medicine.
Study finds that adults with fibromyalgia have a risk of restless legs syndrome

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine found that those with fibromyalgia also have higher incidences of restless legs syndrome. The research suggests that treatment for RLS can be beneficial for treating fibromyalgia as well.

Within the study group, rates of restless legs syndrome were 10 times greater in those with fibromyalgia compared to the control group. After adjusting for other factors that could contribute to RLS the association still remained between RLS and fibromyalgia.

Contributing author Dr. Nathaniel F. Watson said, “Sleep disruption is common in fibromyalgia, and often difficult to treat. It is apparent from our study that a substantial portion of sleep disruption in fibromyalgia is due to restless legs syndrome.”

Researchers found treatment of RLS improved quality of life and symptoms associated with fibromyalgia. Dr. Watson added, “Since restless legs syndrome is a treatable condition, diagnosing and treating RLS in fibromyalgia patients has the potential to improve their sleep.” 

Sleep strategies to help people with fibromyalgia

Whether you have a sleep condition that worsens your fibromyalgia or your fibromyalgia wrecks your sleep, one thing is for certain: Sleep can improve fibromyalgia, so getting proper amounts of it is essential for treatment. 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.

Related Reading:

Fibromyalgia may be confused with rheumatoid arthritis or lupus

Fibromyalgia is a condition that is easily confused with other health issues, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. For the latest study researchers had participants complete the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR) and the Symptom Impact Questionnaire (SIQ). Continue reading…

Fibromyalgia: Causes, symptoms and prevention Living in pain can make it hard to get out bed every morning. Simple tasks become more difficult when you’re in pain. But what’s worse is not knowing what is causing the pain. For years, diagnosing fibromyalgia was difficult. Doctors could not pinpoint its cause since symptoms of fibromyalgia are similar to other health conditions.
Living in pain can make it hard to get out bed every morning. Simple tasks become more difficult when you’re in pain. But what’s worse is not knowing what is causing the pain.

For years, diagnosing fibromyalgia was difficult. Doctors could not pinpoint its cause since symptoms of fibromyalgia are similar to other health conditions. Unfortunately, there is no set test to detect it, so a person might live in pain for years before receiving a proper diagnosis.

Today we have a better understanding of fibromyalgia and more insight to treat the symptoms. Below, you will find everything you need to know about fibromyalgia. 

What is fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia encompasses pain, fatigue, trouble sleeping and changes in mood. Researchers believe fibromyalgia affects how the brain processes pain. People may first begin to notice symptoms of fibromyalgia after surgery or a traumatic event.

Women typically experience fibromyalgia more than men. Although there is currently no cure, treatment can ease symptoms.

Risk factors of fibromyalgia

Some risk factors associated with the development of fibromyalgia include gender, family history and rheumatic disease.

Causes and symptoms of fibromyalgia

An exact cause is still unknown. Researchers believe genetics, infections or physical and emotional trauma might spark the onset of fibromyalgia.

Because fibromyalgia shares many symptoms with other disorders it can be hard to diagnose. Here are some symptoms commonly associated with fibromyalgia:
Pain – this pain is not isolated in one area of the body.
Fatigue – lack of sleep due to pain can leave a person tired with low-energy.
Cognitive difficulties – Ability to focus or concentrate may be associated with fibromyalgia. This is often referred to as “fibro fog.”

Link between fibromyalgia and osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the weakening of bones. While it often occurs in women, men are not immune. As we age our bones lose calcium. This can result in more fractures and can make daily life quite difficult.

Studies show that there appears to be a strong link between fibromyalgia and osteoporosis. This connection is believed to occur because fibromyalgia suppresses the production of growth hormones. If bones don’t receive these hormones they can become weak, which leads to osteoporosis. 

Home remedies for fibromyalgia

If you want to take steps to better manage your fibromyalgia at home here are some useful home remedies to try:

Reduce stress: Stress can make us more sensitive to the effects of pain. It can wreak havoc on all our major bodily systems. Taking the time to relax and reduce stress can better help you manage systems associated with fibromyalgia.
Sleep: Sleep is essential to overall good health. Pain can reduce your ability to sleep and therefore cause daytime fatigue. It’s important for those with fibromyalgia to get adequate sleep to feel their best – napping may help support this.
Exercise: You may not feel up to exercising due to the pain, but exercise holds benefits for those with fibromyalgia. Completing exercises that are easy on your joints can help you build stronger muscles and ease symptoms. Biking and swimming are good exercise options. Also, exercise works to build strong bones, which is beneficial in preventing the onset of osteoporosis.
Know your limit: Don’t over-exert yourself. You may have good days and bad days, so knowing your limit and working within it is your best course of action.

These are just some helpful home remedies that you can practice to help ease the symptoms of fibromyalgia. With a doctor’s help, you can find the best treatment plan for your needs. Although living with fibromyalgia may be difficult, it is possible. With healthy habits and support you, too, can live with fibromyalgia.

http://www.belmarrahealth.com/fibromyalgia-linked-sleep-apnea-insomnia-and-restless-legs-syndrome/