Why is sleep important for managing chronic pain

Sleep is crucial for managing chronic pain because it allows the body to heal and recover, which is essential for dealing with ongoing pain. According to Sean Mackey, not getting enough sleep can impede tissue repair and normal healing processes, making sleep a vital component of effective pain management. He emphasizes the importance of balancing medication use to ensure sleep quality without hindering the healing process: by managing pain with medications like NSAIDs to the lowest effective dose to support sleep, patients can maintain better daily functioning and healing capacity 1.

Chronic pain can disrupt sleep, making it difficult to relax and fall asleep. This makes attentional distraction and mindfulness techniques crucial coping strategies. Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) is highlighted as an effective approach to managing pain by promoting non-judgmental acceptance of pain, reducing anxiety, and improving sleep quality 2.

Additionally, psychological factors like stress can significantly affect pain perception. Managing stress and ensuring adequate sleep can lower pain intensity and improve overall well-being. Research shows that inadequate sleep can increase the risk of acute injury, emphasizing the importance of sufficient sleep for those experiencing chronic pain 3.