Sleep, or the lack thereof

It's 2:20am here and I'm lying in bed, unable to sleep or even get comfortable. I've always been told that I have to get at least 8 hours of sleep a night if I want to wake up refreshed and ready to face the world. But since getting CRPS, 8 hours of sleep in one night is a luxury that I no longer have. My myoclonic jerk in my leg keeps me awake and when I eventually drift off to sleep, the involuntary twitching wakes me up with the spikes of pain I get after each time it kicks out.


Unfortunately there is no magic button to press that puts you into a deep sleep, although I sure wish there was! Each time I start a new medication, they make me drowsy and offer me a chance to rest, but before long the side effects have worn off and I stay wide awake after taking them. Doctors have told me that if I were to get more sleep then I would be more able to cope with my pain the next day, but what they don't seem to remind themselves is that it's because of this pain that I can't sleep in the first place. It's a horrible vicious circle to be stuck in, and I'm sending out some happy vibes to each and everyone of you who is caught up in this, like I am.


One thing I find that helps when I can't sleep is music. I'm a singer and used to play the tenor saxophone and piano before my CRPS spread into my arm. I have always listened to music to help with my mood, whether that be to calm me down when I'm nervous, cheer me up when I'm sad, or distract me when I'm sore. Below is the playlist I listen to when I can't sleep. For those of you who listen to music also when you're unable to get to sleep, what songs to do you listen to?


My Sleep Playlist

• Viva La Vida Meets Love Story - Jon Schmidt
• Little Tornado - Aimee Mann
• The Obliviation - Alexandre Desplat
• Ampersand - Amanda Palmer
• What Sarah Said - Death Cab For Cutie
• Come Here Boy - Imogen Heap
• Christopher Lydon - The Dresden Dolls
• Staràlfur - Sigur Ròs
• The Point Of It All - Amanda Palmer
• Braille - Regina Spektor
• Falling Or Flying - Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
• Here's My Life - Barlow Girl
• Wave - All Angels Gone
• Sweet Darlin' - She & Him
• The Cure For Pain - Jon Foreman
• Beauty From Pain - Superchick
• Get Through - Mark Joseph
• Sleepyhead - Hera
• Kaleidoscope - Kate Havnevik
• The Chain - Ingrid Michaelson
• Blake Says - Amanda Palmer
• Candlelight - Imogen Heap
• Victor's Piano Solo - Danny Elfman
• I'm In Here - Sia
• Sing - The Dresden Dolls
• Hafid Thennan Dag - Hera
• Remembering Sunday - All Time Low
• Sandy Fishnets - Evelyn Evelyn
• One More Time With Feeling - Regina Spektor
• In My Time Of Need - Opeth
• Wednesday's Child - Vermillion Lies
• Speeding Cars - Imogen Heap
• Have To Drive - Amanda Palmer