Suffering from nerve pain at night can be a frustrating and tiring experience. Understanding the causes of nerve pain and exploring treatments and other solutions can help you find the relief you need during nighttime hours.
What Causes Nighttime Nerve Pain?
Various factors can contribute to nerve pain at night, including medical conditions like diabetes and arthritis and lifestyle habits such as lack of exercise or excessive alcohol consumption. In addition to physical causes, stress, anxiety, and depression can trigger nerve pain during the night hours. Understanding the underlying cause of your nerve pain could help you find appropriate treatments and solutions to help you better manage discomfort while allowing you to get the restful sleep you need.
Why is nerve pain worse at night?
Several factors might make nerve pain worse at night:
- Lack of distractions – There are fewer distractions from the pain in a calm, dark atmosphere, which makes it appear more severe.
- Inactivity – There is less movement and pressure on the injured area when resting in bed, making the pain more pronounced.
- Position: Some sleeping postures might increase pressure on sore spots and worsen symptoms.
- Hormonal changes – Changes that occur at night might influence pain thresholds and exacerbate them.
- Sleep disruption – Pain can cause sleep disruption, which can cause sleep deprivation, exhaustion, and increased pain levels.
To manage your symptoms, including looking into treatment options, it’s crucial to discuss them with your doctor.
Some different kinds of pains
Nerve pain, sometimes called neuropathic pain, comes in various forms and is brought on by harm to or malfunctioning of the neurological system. The following are a few of the most typical kinds of nerve pain:
- Peripheral neuropathy: Peripheral nerves outside the brain and spinal cord are impacted by neuropathic nerve pain. The hands and feet may result in discomfort, numbness, and tingling.
- Trigeminal neuralgia – This nerve pain impacts the trigeminal nerve, which controls facial feelings. It may result in abrupt, acute face discomfort.
- Postherpetic neuralgia: This kind of nerve pain results from shingles, a viral infection resulting in a painful rash. The afflicted location may result in shooting, aching, or scorching pain.
- Sciatica – This nerve pain impacts the sciatic nerve, which travels from the lower back down the legs. In the legs, it may result in discomfort, numbness, and tingling.
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) is a form of nerve pain that affects a particular limb or area of the body following an injury. Skin changes and edema may also be present, resulting in excruciating discomfort.
It’s crucial to have a medical examination to diagnose nerve pain correctly and treat it effectively.
Which body part usually occur pain?
Nerve pain can occur in any part of the body, and the specific body parts affected can depend on the underlying cause of the nerve pain. For example,
- Peripheral neuropathy can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the hands and feet.
- Trigeminal neuralgia can cause sudden, severe facial pain.
- Sciatica can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the legs.
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) can affect a specific limb or region of the body.
Nerve pain in the heel at night
Nerve pain in the heel at night can be a symptom of a condition such as plantar fasciitis, peripheral neuropathy, or nerve entrapment.
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, a band of tissue that runs across the bottom of the foot and connects the heel bone to the toes. It can cause sharp pain in the heel, primarily upon waking up in the morning or after long periods of inactivity.
Peripheral neuropathy is a type of nerve damage that can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the feet.
Nerve entrapment occurs when a nerve is compressed or pinched, leading to pain, tingling, or numbness in the affected area. Tarsal tunnel syndrome, for example, is a type of nerve entrapment that can cause heel pain.
Nerve pain in fingers at night
Nerve finger pain at night can be a symptom of peripheral neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the hands and fingers. Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Diabetes
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Alcoholism
- Exposure to certain toxic substances
- Inherited genetic disorders
- Certain infections
- Compression or injury to the nerves
Burning nerve pain in legs at night
Burning nerve pain in the legs at night can be a symptom of peripheral neuropathy, a type of nerve damage that can cause pain, numbness, and tingling in the feet and legs. Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Diabetes
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Alcoholism
- Exposure to certain toxic substances
- Inherited genetic disorders
- Certain infections
- Compression or injury to the nerves
In addition, other conditions such as sciatica, spinal stenosis, and restless legs syndrome can cause burning leg pain, especially at night.
How do you calm pain at night?
There are several ways to help calm nerve pain at night, including:
- Practice good sleep hygiene – Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, using a comfortable mattress and pillow, and creating a relaxing sleep environment can improve sleep quality and reduce the impact of nerve pain on sleep.
- Exercise – Regular physical activity can help reduce pain and improve sleep quality. It’s important to talk to your doctor about what type and amount of exercise are appropriate for you.
- Hot and cold therapy – Applying a hot or cold compress to the affected area can help reduce pain and improve sleep.
- Pain medications – Over-the-counter pain medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can help reduce pain and improve sleep. If the pain is severe, your doctor may prescribe stronger pain medications.
- Relaxation techniques – Relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga, can help reduce stress and calm the nervous system, reducing pain and improving sleep.
- Cognitive behavioral therapy – Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help change negative thoughts and behaviors contributing to chronic pain and sleep disturbances.
Discussing your symptoms and treatment options with a healthcare provider is essential to determine the best approach for managing nerve pain and improving sleep.
How to Treat Nighttime Nerve Pain with Medication and Other Therapies.
Pain medications, including over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen and acetaminophen, can help treat acute nerve pain at night. Other treatments, such as antidepressants and anticonvulsants, effectively reduce nighttime nerve pain since they target neurotransmitters related to pain sensation. Non-pharmaceutical methods such as massage or acupuncture may also alleviate discomfort caused by nerve pain. In addition to treating acute pain, these therapies may help reduce stress levels that could contribute to chronic nerve pain.
Home Remedies to Help Relieve Nighttime Pain.
Several home remedies and pharmacological treatments can help relieve nerve pain at night. Applying a heating pad or a warm bath may relieve some of the discomfort caused by nerve pain. Furthermore, stretching and engaging in light exercise before bedtime has been found to reduce symptoms of chronic nerve pain. Stress-reduction activities such as yoga, meditation, and deep breathing can relax your body and nervous system and make it easier to cope with nighttime nerve pain.
Managing Stress and Anxiety to Reduce Pain Symptoms at Night.
Managing stress and anxiety levels to reduce nerve pain symptoms at night is essential. Stress increases the release of chemicals that can cause inflammation and weaken nerve cells, resulting in increased pain. Try different methods to reduce stress, such as taking a break from activities that trigger anxious feelings, staying active, maintaining a healthy diet, journaling, and talking with family or friends about what’s causing you stress. Additionally, relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, guided imagery, massage therapy, progressive muscle relaxation, and yoga effectively reduce nerve pain-related stress.
Healthy Lifestyle Changes Can Reduce the Frequency of Nighttime Nerve Pain Episodes.
Making lifestyle changes is the first step towards reducing your nighttime nerve pain. Eating a balanced diet full of nutrients, maintaining a healthy body weight, quitting or reducing smoking and drinking, and getting regular exercise can help manage nerve pain. Additionally, getting adequate rest and reducing activities late in the day that may interfere with sleep is essential. Multiple studies suggest natural therapies such as yoga, tai chi, and acupuncture are also effective in relieving nerve pain symptoms.