2025 Research Highlights: Connection Between Insomnia and Cognitive Impairment

Oh, what I wouldn't give for a decent night's sleep!

Ever since a stroke seven years ago, pain keeps me from sleeping more than a couple hours at a time.

I'm so weary that I worry about it affecting my mental health -- but I haven't found anything that will suppress the pain.

Any suggestions?

Hi, @scottrl. Darn sleep! I imagine you are already doing all the things I know to do…..good sleep hygiene (like mentioned, above), check for sleep apnea, physical therapy, staying active, keep talking with my doctor….all the things.

I went to the home page, searched for “sleep after stroke” and found some discussions you may want to check out if you haven’t already.
Discussion about sleep following stroke: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/

@jlharsh Thank you for your input.
But my issue isn't so much sleep but pain.
Joint pain, nerve pain, muscle spasms, burning sensations, stabbing pain, throbbing, twitching, eye pain, headaches ...
It's impossible to stay asleep.
Doctors haven't helped at all.
Perhaps this will diminish someday. Today is not that day.

@scottrl reading through some of the discussions through the link I provided above are encouraging on that front, Scott.

I am hopeful connecting with other members in your similar situation will provide helpful ideas.

You can do this!

So why not give women who still have hot flashes from menopause HRT when insomnia is a huge problem.

My mom has dementia and her sleep patterns are terrible. She sleeps during the day. I worry about it and yet she is not physically capable of exercise. She will not take any suggestions, really. It is her short term and it is getting worse and worse. I have to tell her things over and over in the same conversation. She will not remember even talking to me. It is very difficult to watch all this. My brother lives with her and is taking care of her, however, he has always had sleep issues too. He worked a job that was third shift and now, he stays up all night and sleeps during the day as well. The only thing I can do is suggest a change. I have to admit that I am not able to change the situation. I just have to deal with what happens today. It is painful to watch her decline.

@scottrl
My neurologist suggested i try Alpha Lipoc Acid , an antioxidant , over the counter, found in studies to help reduce the progression of neuropathy in some people. She started me out with 300 mg. I now take 600 to 1200 daily. It has reduced my perariphal neuropathy as well as reduced fibromyalgia attacks significantly. I cannot take gabapentin or metformin. I’m a type 2 diabetic , who has reduced my AIC to 5.9 without meds, lost 65 pounds in two years , without meds- 50 more to go- I eat more sweets than i should , still have neuropathy but pain is much less- only take tyenol 500,2 at a time - not very effective but i can’t take Aleve, which is excellent for my pain, because of blood thinners. You might want to discuss , try Alpha Lipoc Acid, no prescription needed and i surely know when i run out as pain returns. Magnesium thru soaking feet in epsom salts helps or my daughter used epsom salts sold in lavender , other forms in bath water to help with chemo pain and i’ve used magnesium cream on feet when withdrawing from tramadol and gabapentin which i couldn’t take as they caused me to swell ( before my alpha lipoc which has reduced my pain) I hope this helps. Good luck.

@patricia0816 Thank you. I'll check it out.

@scottrl
What pain meds are you on already?? There are many available-
OTC & prescription.