[cricket183]

I haven't had a good night sleep in a long time now. It's been years. I have RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) which is a chronic pain condition. It affects my entire upper body and I am unable to lie down in bed so I sleep in a recliner. I sleep for 1-3 hours and then am awakened by pain. Usually I am able to fall back to sleep in an hour or so but sometimes it is a couple of hours. I am reluctant to try sleeping pills of any kind because my son has severe migraines and they usually come on in the middle of the night and even though he is 20 yrs old he often needs me and I'm afraid I would not be able to wake up if I took them. I am usually able to get a nap during the day so that helps some but I feel exhausted all the time. Does anyone have any ideas to help me sleep better? P.S. I am on pain medication already.
Cricket

[Tosspot]

That doesn't sound very good at all!! There are some sleep aids out there that aren't necessarily "sleeping pills" like ambien. I know quite a few people who take trazadone, or even benadryll to fall asleep. I puts you to sleep but doesn't keep you asleep so you would be able to be there for your son if he needed you.

CAn you take extended release pain medication that could work longer than 1-3 hours?

[LucidDreamer]

I recently learned to meditate, im in the UK and there is a budhist temple that offers a day course in meditation. Relaxing the mind and the body before bed, I would reccomend this to anyone that cannot sleep. You do not have to be religious or spiritual to meditate, and everyone can do it. Also, some believe it can help with pain, and even heal from within..