Getting sufficient quality sleep is critical for overall health and wellbeing. Yet many of us are challenged by chronic sleep deprivation, with a host of physical and emotional problems causing sleep issues. Common orthopaedic injuries and persistent conditions are often to blame for sleepless nights.
“We see several conditions that consistently interfere with sleep and are often the reason people opt for surgical repair,” said Endeavor Health orthopaedic surgeon Joshua Wright-Chisem, MD.
The most common of these conditions is a rotator cuff tear, said Dr. Wright-Chisem, who regularly treats patients with chronic shoulder pain that keeps them from falling and/or staying asleep.
“A lack of sleep leads to a cascade of real health consequences, from cognitive issues to decreased immune function. Not getting enough sleep is a huge barrier to an active, healthy lifestyle,” emphasized Dr. Wright-Chisem.
Another exceedingly common problem, particularly in women over age 40 is hip bursitis. Microtears and inflammation of the bursa sac can cause pain and stiffness at the hip joint and are often associated with extremely poor sleep, especially for people who sleep on their side, explained Dr. Wright-Chisem. Bursitis is typically the result of a combination of anatomic and hormonal changes and can be aggravated by certain repetitive motions like running hills or climbing stairs.
While people sometimes feel they can gut out pain or restrictions in mobility, it is vital to seek our orthopaedic care when a problem lingers past a week and disrupts your sleep.
Treat the ortho injury to improve sleep
“Up to 60-70% of patients comment on sleep problems related to these conditions,” said Dr. Wright-Chisem. “Successful orthopaedic treatment will very often improve sleep for people struggling with pain and difficulty sleeping.”
And successful orthopaedic treatment does not necessarily mean surgery, as conservative approaches often offer relief.
Physical therapy, changes to activity patterns, steroid injections and anti-inflammatory medications are typically among the first line of treatment for many common orthopaedic conditions.
Healthy sleep habits
Practicing good sleep hygiene is important especially for those struggling with pain, and Dr. Wright-Chisem encourages patients to follow best practices including:
- Keep a consistent sleep schedule
- Limit electronic device use close to bedtime
- Limit or eliminate caffeine later in the day
- Work to manage stress
- Even moderate daily exercise can benefit sleep
Evening anti-inflammatory medication
“A well-dosed anti-inflammatory medication taken at night can make a huge impact and help with sleep,” said Dr. Wright-Chisem.
While sleep deprivation may make people desperate for help, he cautions people to stay away from opioid medications and ongoing use of sleeping pills.
When conservative treatment approaches are not enough, surgical repair may be the best option.
“You can take someone with excellent sleep hygiene habits and a bad orthopaedic problem can still make them miserable and unable to get good sleep,” added Dr. Wright Chisem. “It’s important to see a specialist before the chronic sleep deprivation does more damage.”
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