Chronic Pain: A Guide to Better Sleep & Better Health
Chronic Pain: A Guide to Better Sleep & Better Health
Sleep is crucial for everyone
When was the last time you had a good night’s sleep?
If you’re living with chronic pain, chances are it’s been a while.
Sleep has become one of the most neglected parts of our modern lives. While we all understand the need for rest, many of us continue to prioritise work, social commitments, and screen time over a good night’s sleep, often at great cost to our general well-being.
At Trinity Clinic, we regularly see how poor sleep impacts our patients, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally too. And if you’re dealing with chronic pain, sleep challenges can feel never-ending. It becomes a cycle that’s hard to break: pain disrupts sleep, and poor sleep makes the pain worse.
We have put together this helpful blog as a guide to managing chronic pain for better sleep and better health.
Why Sleep Matters More Than You Think
Sleep plays a vital role in nearly every function of the body. It isn’t just about closing your eyes and drifting off. It’s your body’s essential reset button. During those precious hours of deep sleep, the body undergoes critical repair processes. Your tissues are busy regenerating, your immune system is strengthening, and your brain is processing the day’s events while regulating your emotions. Without enough quality sleep, your risk for serious health issues like heart disease, diabetes, depression, and obesity increases.
Yet, despite its importance, restful sleep often takes a backseat.
From late-night scrolling to long working hours, sleep is too often the first thing we sacrifice. Poor posture during the day and inadequate sleeping positions at night further exacerbate the problem, placing strain on the spine and musculoskeletal system. Constant stress levels and injuries can also lead to discomfort, restlessness, and ultimately, poor-quality sleep.
The Painful Truth About Sleep
The latest research confirms what many of you already know: up to 88% of people with chronic pain report poor sleep quality. Over two-thirds of people report insomnia or disrupted sleep. More than half of those with insomnia also experience chronic pain.
Neglecting proper sleep hygiene routines can quickly become a vicious cycle: pain makes it harder for us to sleep for long enough. Lack of restorative sleep prevents the body from healing those same aches and pains.
And it’s not just about falling asleep. Pain disrupts the deep, restorative stages of sleep, particularly REM, making you more sensitive to discomfort the next day.
This means your body becomes more sensitive to pain, and you feel that pain more intensely. Even mild discomfort can feel amplified the next day. Then that increased pain makes it harder to fall asleep or stay asleep.
Before you know it, you’re caught in a cycle that’s difficult to escape.
Many of our patients describe feeling more fragile after a series of bad nights, both physically and emotionally. That’s not your imagination; it’s your nervous system responding to the double burden of pain and fatigue.
How Your Body Suffers from Poor Sleep
When sleep quality diminishes, it’s not just your pain experience that changes. Your energy levels take a hit. Inflammation increases. Healing slows.
Sleep quality plays a vital role in our mental well-being. Anxiety levels increase as our sleep quality goes down. Have you ever felt irritable because you’re tired and in pain? But when you’re moving better, your mood improves? Good sleep can help do that.
If you’re nodding along to any of this? The good news is that this sleep-pain cycle can be interrupted!
How Chiropractic Care Can Improve Sleep
Chiropractic care and treatments offer a natural and effective way to improve both pain levels and sleep quality. At Trinity Clinic, we address one of the root causes of disrupted sleep: tension and misalignment.
Through gentle adjustments, we help relieve pressure on your muscles and joints. Chiropractic care can help to alleviate any discomfort that may be interfering with your sleep.
When your spine is properly aligned and your muscles can finally relax, you may experience:
- Less aches, pains and muscle tightness
- Easier, more comfortable movement
- Improved breathing patterns, which activate your parasympathetic system (the rest & digest state)
- Reduced stress levels
- Deeper, more restorative sleep
Your nervous system calms. Sleep comes more easily, allowing for longer and higher-quality sleep cycles.
We specialise in the McTimoney technique, a gentle chiropractic method that’s safe and effective for all ages. Rather than chasing symptoms, we take a holistic view to restore alignment and support your body’s natural healing.
It is used to help with a range of common conditions, such as back and neck pain, joint stiffness, muscular aches, and recovery from injury or falls.
Benefits of a chiropractic treatment include:
- Pain Relief: Effective for managing back, neck, and joint pain.
- Improved Flexibility: Restores joint function and ease of movement.
- Better Posture: Reduces strain on muscles and nerves.
- Fewer Headaches, particularly those linked to spinal issues.
- Stress Relief, supporting relaxation and overall well-being.
Supporting Better Sleep Between Treatments
Even the most effective chiropractic treatment needs support between sessions. Your sleeping posture is crucial. A misaligned neck or unsupported spine during sleep can undo progress between treatments or create new issues.
You spend roughly a third of your life sleeping. That’s a lot of time for your body to either heal or develop new problems. The right supportive pillow not only enhances the benefits of your chiropractic treatments but also helps you achieve a more comfortable and restorative sleep every night. It’s a necessary extension of your care plan.
That’s why we recommend the Complete Sleeprrr™ Pillow:
- Adjustable memory foam design to suit all shapes and sleep positions
- Cervical neck support to keep your spine aligned throughout the night, reducing neck and shoulder pain
- Trusted by UK health professionals, including chiropractors, osteopaths, and physiotherapists
- Made in the UK, with a focus on quality and comfort
Your Next Steps
If you’re stuck in the pain-sleep-pain cycle, waking up sore, or living with chronic pain, you don’t have to resign yourself to endless nights of tossing and turning.
Start with these simple steps:
- First, book a chiropractic consultation. Let’s assess what’s happening with your spine and develop a personalised treatment approach with you.
- Reassess your sleep environment. Is your pillow supporting proper alignment? Is your mattress still serving you well? Small changes here can make an enormous difference.
A good night’s sleep is one of the best investments you can make in your health. It helps manage pain, boost mood, and improve your quality of life.
Better sleep and better health go hand in hand. We’re here to help you achieve both.
To book your next chiropractic treatment, visit our booking page
For more information on our pillows, take a look in our online shop
