International Journal of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine

Chronic Pain and Sleep Disturbances: A Dangerous Coexistence

Chronic Pain (CP) new definition has brought benefits to address the complexity of this syndrome. Quality of Life (QoL) and Functional Recovery (FR) represent fundamental issues of clinical outcomes, which go beyond mere pain relief. Such a definition recognizes the bidirectional association between CP and SD. Patients who suffer from CP always have Sleep Disturbances (SD). These patients may feel agitated during the night and tired in the morning, leading to a significant decrease in personal productivity. The two-way relationship between poor sleep and pain operates to maintain and amplify sleep inadequacy and growth and intensification of pain. There is a great need to increase awareness on the contribution of sleep quality to the severity of functional impairment in CP patients. CP disorders are not a simple exacerbation of acute pain. The negative effect of pain and sleep problems on quality of life outlines the necessity for investigating how the two conditions are associated and how to structure treatments and prevention strategies.

Author(s):

Renato Vellucci

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