If you aren’t sleeping, your body isn’t recovering. Studies have also shown that a lack of sleep can make pain symptoms more severe. The whole problem is that when you deal with chronic pain on a regular basis, or even if you are dealing with a temporary injury, getting sleep isn’t the easiest thing to do in the world. Here are some tips for sleeping with chronic pain.

1. Cool Room

Have you ever noticed that when the room is cooler, and you are all bundled up, you seem to feel more comfortable? When it comes to sleep, comfort it one of the top priorities because without it you won't get a full night’s rest. Studies have shown that in real-life situations heat exposure increases wakefulness and decreases slow wave sleep and REM. So when you are winding down for the night and crawling into your sheets, make sure that your room is cool.

2. Invest in Supplies

A good mattress, a good pillow, and good sheets blankets are something you should invest in. If you find that you are uncomfortable trying to fall asleep, getting the right bedding could make the world of a difference. Many people find success in using heated blankets to help cope with the pain and get to sleep. Having a pillow top to make your mattress softer or getting a higher thread count, so you slide through your sheets may be able to help you fall asleep and stay asleep even with chronic pain.

3. Get Sleepy Before Bed

If you lay awake in bed and you don’t feel tired, it’s going to be difficult to go to sleep because your pain is exciting your central nervous system. Before bed, try doing an activity to tire your mind out. Try things like:

• A warm bath
• Reading
• Write
• Have sex
• Drink tea or warm milk

Try to stay away from screens before bed because they can keep you awake. The light emitted can suppress melatonin production which keeps you from falling asleep.

4. Using CBD Oil

Cannabis has been used for centuries for pain, using CBD hemp oil may be able to help you before you to go bed at night. By elevating the endocannabinoid anandamide, CBD oil is able to reduce your body’s sensitivity to pain. CBD oil has also shown in studies to help promote the REM stage of sleep and at higher doses may help you feel sleepy. Try adding it to your warm bath with CBD bath salts of using a topical to help eliminate localized pain.