Whether or not you have insomnia caused by arthritis or some other form of chronic pain depends in many ways on the kind of symptoms you have. Difficulty in falling asleep is something that affects almost everyone at some point, but it may be time to seek the counsel of a doctor if you’re showing symptoms of chronic insomnia. Low quality sleep, the kind characterized by lots of tossing and turning, may be another warning sign. Waking up too early and then being unable to fall back asleep is another symptom that plagues many arthritis sufferers who otherwise sleep relatively soundly.

Many factors can contribute to insomnia in those with arthritis and pain isn’t necessarily the only contributor. Worry and other forms of stress can also lead to sleeplessness. Some people are unable to sleep because of concerns about a doctor’s appointment scheduled for the next morning. Difficulty sleeping can also be the result of meds used to treat arthritis. The feedback loop created by the need to take medications and their impact on quality of life can be extremely debilitating. While medications may ease pain, they sometimes rob of us sleep. Cutting back on medication in favor of sleep can lead to a level of pain that makes it difficult to sleep, thus defeating our purpose.

Instead of prescription medication, many people have found relief for their arthritis pain in a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulator or tens unit. A TENS unit is one of several kinds of electrotherapy devices that use very small doses of electric current to promote natural pain relief.

The TENS machine itself is a small electronic device that delivers current through electrodes placed on the skin. Unlike systemic drugs, which affect the entire body, electrotherapy targets pain exactly where it occurs. Compact and easy to use, a TENS unit can in many cases offer quick, dependable relief of pain both at home and away from home.

While TENS is used to mask or hide pain on a superficial level, another kind of electrical stimulator is thought to work on a more cellular level. The microcurrent produced by a mens unit – MENS is an acronym for Microcurrent Electrical Neuromuscular Stimulator – more closely approaches the strength of our own body’s electrical current. The direct flow of this electrical current through the body is thought to be a major contributor to health and well-being and in theory it is this electrical balance that is disrupted by an injury.

A TENS or MENS unit may be a drug-free option for treating the chornic pain and insomnnia of arthritis. Medical devices like these do require a prescription, so ask your doctor if electrotherapy may be right for you.

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