Trouble being able to sleep more than 3-4 hours before

Posted by jeansg @jeansg, Jun 30 9:11pm

I was diagnosed with PMR October 2023 and had the symptoms since April 2023. Have been tapering off prednisone by .5mg every 2 weeks. Biggest problem is I can’t sleep more than 3-4 hours a night before waking up with the shoulder/neck pain and then try to sleep more sitting up in bed. Has anyone found pillows or any way to feel comfortable…can only sleep on my back
Jean G

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

greatdayinthemorning | @greatdayinthemorning | Jul 2 7:24am

In reply to @celia16 "I’m curious about the 500 mg of magnesium." + (show)

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/magnesium
I take magnesium glycinate. It's more readily absorbed by the body than other forms of magnesium. Dosage of 500 mg was recommended by my doctor.

jlo2252 | @jlo2252 | Jul 2 7:59am

In reply to @megz "Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which shouldn't be taken with prednisone because of the..." + (show)

😂😂😂. Lol!!!
But seriously, megz, you are right about ibuprofen! Those NSAIDS caused some GI bleeding in my case—-when I stopped taking it, my bleeding stopped. Unfortunately for me, I sometimes have to take 1/2 of an opioid pain medication. I’m under care of a pain management team so I’m very careful with that medication. When I’m in pain it sometimes helps me sleep also. I know that doctors don’t like to use this but it is the only thing I can take that helps me besides the prednisone. I’m looking forward to being able to stop both of these medications!!

jds2123 | @jds2123 | Jul 3 8:30am

Unfortunately I have similar difficulties in sleeping and occasionally have to take 1/2 of ambian to get 4-6 hours of sleep. I’ve tried melatonin with no benefit noted. Other recommendations are welcomed.

prestol | @prestol | Jul 3 10:45am

My doctor prescribed trazadone for sleep. It worked ok, but the next morning I had a lot of dizziness and lowered heart rate (which the pharmacist warned about). So no more trazodone. Now I take 25 mg of benedryl for the dreaded 3 AM awakening, along with Tylenol for the pain. Works about half the time. I am lucky to get six hours of sleep most nights, but five is more typical.

lsmomasdaughter | @lsmomasdaughter | Jul 3 2:27pm

I sleep in a pillowed recliner. Also, my son bought me some candy with whatever that marijuana derivative is that eases pain and induces sleep. Sometimes I have a hard time falling asleep, but once I'm snoozing, it lasts 6-8 hours.

jeansg | @jeansg | Jul 3 5:04pm

thanks for all your recommendations.
Another question is whether anyone knows of specialists in PMR in the Raleigh/Durham/Chapel hill NC area where Duke univ and University of Chapel hill are. Other names not as close also appreciated.
Jean

jeansg | @jeansg | Jul 3 5:10pm

In reply to @jds2123 "Unfortunately I have similar difficulties in sleeping and occasionally have to take 1/2 of ambian to..." + (show)

I take 75-100 mg Trazadone and that helps me get to sleep but doesn’t last as long as I’d like. I’ve actually started using a heating pad around my neck and shoulders when I wake up in the middle of the night and that helps me fall back to sleep. It’s on pretty low so I don’t think its dangerous.

frontrangedeb | @frontrangedeb | Jul 4 11:07am

In reply to @jeansg "I take 75-100 mg Trazadone and that helps me get to sleep but doesn’t last as..." + (show)

I, too tried melatonin—1 mg worked for a couple days, then I tried 1.5 mg with same result. So, now I take 25 mg of Benadryl at bedtime (a bit before if I remember!) and I get a pretty good night of sleep. I am down to 7.5 mg of prednisone now, have been going down 2.5 mg every 2-3 weeks since April 30th.

Wishing you (and all of us) better health soon!

jlo2252 | @jlo2252 | Jul 5 9:16am

In reply to @jds2123 "Unfortunately I have similar difficulties in sleeping and occasionally have to take 1/2 of ambian to..." + (show)

I tried melatonin, but it unfortunately interacted with one of my meds and I started sleepwalking and walking into my bedroom wall trying to get to the bathroom! 😂
It scared the hell out of me at the time, when it happened more than once I stopped the melatonin. No problems since then!

papas | @papas | Jul 5 9:28am

In reply to @frontrangedeb "I, too tried melatonin—1 mg worked for a couple days, then I tried 1.5 mg with..." + (show)

I have a similar experience - easy to sleep between 9:30-10:30 waking about 2:30 with difficulty getting back to sleep. Recently successfully tried using my air pods, listening to relaxing/sleep music or an AudioBook. Plenty of free stuff on the Web. I usually sleep on my back so the air pods are not a problem. When pain is an issue I take Tylenol.