Here’s one of my favorite way to combat symptoms of both restless legs and Fibro/IBS flare-ups.
After taking a nightly bath (with lavender essential oil and Epsom salts, of course!) spend a few minutes, while in bed, massaging your lower legs and feet – ending with your feet.
This increases circulation in your muscles and brings the energy from your head, down to your feet. And, remember to eat a banana early in the day for potassium, take a daily multi-vitamin (no later than breakfast) and colloidal minerals – all important for muscle health.
Is your bedroom uncluttered, dark, quiet and a comfortable temperature?
If not, you will want to make those adjustments. Reserve your bed and bedroom for sleeping only. Find other locations in the house for activities such as reading, watching TV or working on a laptop.
Also, using black-out curtains can go a long way to ensuring absolute darkness in your room which has been shown to help encourage deeper sleep.
A cluttered room can reflect a cluttered mind, so straighten it up. Make sure you have enough bedding to keep you warm during the night.
Is that mattress and pillow working for you or against you?
Are they comfortable? Does the pillow support your head and neck? Is your mattress lumpy like Princess and the Pea, or does it cradle your body?
These items can affect your overall comfort during the night and provide you with the proper support reducing sleep trouble. If a new mattress is not in the budget, a memory foam mattress or egg crate foam cover can help reduce pressure on those tender points, such as the the hips and shoulders.
One of my favorite mattresses I’ve ever used has been a 100% latex mattress. I like them better than memory foam as they are easier on my hip and leg muscles.
Are you waking with sore muscles in your jaw?
Are you grinding your teeth while you sleep? If you are, a visit to your dentist may be in order. You can be fitted for a night guard for your teeth, that you will wear while in bed at night.
The night guard allows for grinding, but will hold your teeth in position, so they don’t become loose or break. It will help reduce the TMJ symptom of sore jaw, neck and shoulder muscles.
A good nights rest is very important.
Making sure your routine in the evenings is soothing and relaxing before bed can greatly help your sleep and your ability to stay asleep.