Sleep...perchance to dream.

[Biciclista]

Melatonin for me was a similar disaster, but Valerian is nice, better than nothing.

[emily_in_nc]

While you're healing, I wouldn't rule out something like Lunesta for the short-term. It's non-addicting, and I got some amazingly good sleep on it. Asked for the Rx after losing my dad in a car accident. I couldn't fall to sleep at all and would wake up frequently when I finally did. Lunesta was instant zzzzzz's. Not something you want to take forever, of course, but until you're healed, it might help without hurting.

[goldfinch]

I generally am not afraid of experimenting even with pain killers and sleep aids as I do not seem to lean towards addictions. I suffer from sleep apnea. When I had to start using the CPAP machine I simply could not sleep with it. I tried ambien, which worked perfectly fine but made me concerned because of the risk of getting up and doing things in your sleep. I would only use it if I had a light sleeping spouse who would notice if I arose and started doing stuff.

I then went to benzodiazepines, really antianxiety drugs, specifically Atavan. As you mentioned, there is a dependency risk and you have to use care with dosing. It worked great for me. It got me through the few weeks it took to adapt to the machine. I got along with a very low dose. I had no problem whatsoever dropping the pills when I didn't need them anymore.

I know, not natural, but I wanted to give an alternative point of view. And natural isn't necessarily natural, these remedies you ingest aren't food after all. They are drugs, whether regulated or unregulated as supplements.

(As an aside, I know someone in California who has serious sleep issues due to pain and after trying various cocktails of drugs he got a prescription for marijuana and it worked great for him. I probably would be too worried about the federal crime to try it though. )

Just another point of view.

[Catrin]

I am trying different ways of supporting my neck. I THINK what is happening is that as I sleep, my head/neck gets in a bad position. This causes pain, wakes me up, then I do it all over again. Getting to sleep isn't a problem, it is this posture/pain cycle. I am really hoping that PT will help strengthen things...

I've heard of Lunesta and thought it was possible addictive. I will ask my doctor if he thinks it might help. I am unsure if medication or supplements can actually help with this - but that probably just shows my ignorance of things. I am not prone to chemical addiction, but I AM prone to over-doing things so I still tend to be cautious.

I do love beer, but it doesn't help me sleep. Indeed, too much beer keeps me awake...

[OakLeaf]

In the short term, a muscle relaxant like cyclobenzaprine might help you on both fronts. When I've taken those I split the 10 mg tablets in half, otherwise I'd wake up with a raging hangover.

I like valerian too, or a valerian/hops/skullcap combo. Older allergy pills are another possibility - it's not unusual for me to take a chlorpheniramine maleate at night to both help me sleep, and knock down allergy symptoms that break through the shots and non-drowsy meds.

[Catrin]

In the short term, a muscle relaxant like cyclobenzaprine might help you on both fronts. When I've taken those I split the 10 mg tablets in half, otherwise I'd wake up with a raging hangover.

I will check this out with my doctor. My current muscle relaxant isn't strong enough to really do much except take the edge off during the day at work when I can't risk getting drowsy.

[goldfinch]

I do love beer, but it doesn't help me sleep. Indeed, too much beer keeps me awake...

Same here. And if I drink too late in the day I don't sleep well.