Pain Management Community

I sleep great most nights thanks to our Sleep Number bed, a muscle relaxer that I take right before going to bed, and sleeping with CPAP to correct my sleep apnea. There are times when my chronic pain levels are extra high that I have difficulty sleeping. That's when I watch "The Nanny" reruns or home improvement shows on TV in my recliner in the living room. I have even spent entire nights that way.

Sleep is an essential part to managing chronic pain, and those who have difficulties should discuss this with their doctor.

Ah sleep....what's that? I had Restoril and from another doc Ambien, both of which helped, however my current doc will not order any thing for me. After switching from Duragesic 75 mcg's to 90 mgs of methadone....well that's all I can get. He is suppose to be a pain specialist, but according to him if the pain is controlled 50% of the time it's a grin and bear it the rest of the time.
I am on way less meds now than ever in my life and I am getting older and it gets quite painful from time to time and sleep only 3-4 hours a night.

I use to get Soma for spasms, and never had a problem with it...in fact was surprised that people abuse this drug.....but I am lucky now, 9 years later to get 15 Flexeril.......Just plain frustrated.

Hi Caprice,

That was a very informative and interesting article to read.

My sleep is fairly good. I am not lucky enough to have a sleep number bed like Dave (but I drool over the commercials lol) but I get by with the bed we have and its old. We have patched it up by adding memory foam to the top. We need a new bed and I need to bump it up on our list of priorities.

I take morphine with valium before bedtime and the two together synergistically help a lot with the chronic pain in my back and I am able to get a deep restful sleep every night. I read in the article that morphine and codeine tend to prevent deep sleep or REM sleep but I don't think that phenomenon occurs with me as I wake up very rested each morning. The only bad thing is that the medication wears off. Even though I take the extended release form of morphine, I cannot sleep more than 10 hours. Most of the time I sleep between 7-9 hours. If I sleep 10 hours, it was a good night! My back begins to "wake up" as I call it at the 8 to 9 hour mark.

Before my pain was under control, I wouldn't get good sleep at all. I would toss and turn all night. It didn't matter how I slept, I was in pain and I would wake up with a higher pain intensity in the mornings. So, I truly believe lack of adequate sleep leads to more pain.

I sleep on my side with a pillow between my legs . I also have a pillow to keep my arm level with my shoulders and I make sure the pillow I place under my head is tucked underneath neck between my ear and shoulder. I sleep this way religiously and it has helped align my spine such that I wake up in less pain.

Kelly

Hi, Kelly.

Are you aware that you can claim the Sleep Number bed or anything like that (hot tub, etc.) as a medical expense on your taxes? You have to pay for the item and then get a letter from your doctor that you need the item to help with pain relief, then include the full cost and any related supplies when you file your taxes. The letter from the doctor is best to have in the event you are audited. That really was the only way we justified the large expense in 2008 of the bed and the hot tub.

Hi Dave,

I didn't know that I could write it off as a medical expense on my taxes. If you don't mind telling, I would like to know the price tag of the sleep number bed. The never tell on the commercials. Is my estimate of $1500 in the right ball park? Thanks for the great info!

Kelly

That's about the price for a single. I got my dad one for his new apartment in an assisted living facility about a month ago. A twin extra long was $1,300.00 with shipping and installation. We paid about $3,600.00 total for our queen-sized but got the adjustable frame where the head and foot raises and it vibrates. They have financing programs which we took advantage of.

The best thing to do is to go to your Sleep Number store and try them out. It has proved to be a very good investment for us.

WOW!!! Yes we would definitely need to take advantage of the financing options as we would need a queen sized bed.

That is so nice of you to get your Dad one. I am sure is very happy and proud to have such a giving son like you.

We will definitely go to the sleep number store to check them out.

Kelly

Sounds as you need to find a new doctor. It took 6 years and three doctors to get medications to sleep all night, Currently i use flexril,restoril,percocet 10mg, & tramadol and only get 5-6 hours of rest.

I had about all these problems last night trying to get some sleep. First, about 10:00 pm I was having severe pain from lower back, right leg completely to my foot and right knee that was replaced in 07 .I started with ice packs that did not help, but usually does, then started using heating pad. I had taken a 7.5 loratab about 9:30 which also helped keep me awake. About 5:15 AM this morning I finally got t sleep until about 7 AM. It also looks like it is happening again tonight also.

I was just told oh you have osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia.My doctor was bothered by me asking for pain medication.I waited to long to find out what was wrong with me. I was scared and I thought it was just something that would go away.I feel like now what do I? I do not know what I can do.Please if you have a good idea let me know.

Hi 52.

Have you tried any over-the-counter pain medicine? The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory meds are commonly recommended for arthritis.

There are also specialists who treat both of your problems.

Good luck.

CTB

As an employee of the country's largest tax preparation service, I would like to clarify the requirements for medical expense write offs.

Yes, you may write it off, if you have a prescription or other written documentation from a physican stating the "necessisty" of the bed.

If you do not and you claim the expense, should your return be investigated (audited), you will have to pay back any refund caused by that deduction plus penalties and intrest from the original filing date of the return.

This is true for ANY deductions claimed on ones tax return.

Thank you for the clarification. Whenever I include discussions regarding claiming the bed as a medical expense on income taxes in any of my posts, I include verbiage similar to what I included in this post with states:

"You have to pay for the item and then get a letter from your doctor that you need the item to help with pain relief, then include the full cost and any related supplies when you file your taxes. The letter from the doctor is best to have in the event you are audited."

From now on I will change "best to have" to "absolutely necessary" for there is no confusion.

Hello Peggy~!
I can fully relate to what you're going through... Just got a new Dr. who switched the Soma I'd been taking for the past 6 yrs. to "Baclofen". I'd told her I won't be able to sleep w/out the Soma, but there's a big LOOPHOLE going on in the system... The DEA is coming down big time on people who take certain drugs, especially in combinations, & BTW: Hate Methadone users. One person I blame for this is "Anna Nicole Smith" for having a QUART of Methadone in her fridge. People in the lime light have infiltrated the minds of Dr's. & the DEA to the point your Dr's. license is at stake. My Dr. can't even prescribe a higher dose of one of my pain meds; why? Because I have to see a "Pain mgmt. Dr." 1st. My PCP Dr. is already telling me "Good Luck" getting what I need, & have been taking for a few yrs.[the only med that works>. Now w/Obama & his new HealthCare biz, who knows what's next? I've become so depressed over all this I've contemplated doing things I would of never thought of before... They're making it look like I'm some kind of "dope fiend" instead of someone in legitimate pain.I'ts not right, nor fair, & I think something needs to be done about it- but what? Let me know what you think, OK? Thanx, DawnnaBee