Hubby's sleeping problem....  

I dont know if this will help but after my back problems I was not sleeping well either. As I did not want any drugs I checked out a natural supplement called Melatonin it worked for me and you can get it in any health stores. I think that it what is in Rozerum but I'm not sure.
If your husband can sleep during the day then it sounds as if his sleep pattern is out of whack and Melatonin is used for jet lag etc.
Check out this link for information.
http://www.vanderbilt.edu...

Hello appls
I am so sorry for your husband's pain. It sounds so bad and I am sure it is.
I know this syndrome well, and if he wants off all the meds, then it would be on to natural rememdies, as he is probably going to feel more pain without the pills.
The only thing I can think of is acupuncture treatments.
I really can't think of anything else that is natural that would help his pain level and manage it so he could sleep without meds.
((((appls))))Wish I could think of more to help. I know how this is believe me.
So far since I have been with my other half here, there have been 6 surgeries in the last 6 years +, all in which I witnessed inability to sleep because of pain of hardware for knee replacements and so on. It is a viscious cycle.
I wish him lots of healing energy and yourself too so that you may be able to overcome this and truly get back to normal and sleeping.

Your hubby could be experiencing what is called paradoxical excitation from his pain med or the sleeping meds. It means that something that normally should make you calm and sleepy instead gives you insomnia, the jitters, tremors or hyperactivity. He should ask about the pain med. You did not say what it was. I think sometimes natural remedies are better and easier on your body.

i suggest tramadol a non narcotic pain reliever prescribed by the doctor or trazodone another non addictive sleep aid.my best advise as wife of a husband who has had three back surgeries.dont let him get addicted to pain medications it will happen before you realize and its a nightmare.my husband is finally over the addiction but it took two long years.i almost left him. we spent so much money on pain killers its unreal.he should be dead right now but with alot of patience and hard work he has overcome the problem.good luck to you.

Check out...quote:
"Gentle Sleep Complex*
90 tablets / 30 servings Valerian, Passion Flower, & German Chamomile. Kosher Star K

For a Good Night's Rest
There's a wonderfully restful alternative that falls between counting sheep and prescribed medication. It's called Gentle Sleep Complex.* It contains a complementary blend of herbs - valerian, chamomile, and passion flower - that promotes calm and restful sleep. For centuries these herbs have been used safely for occasional sleeplessness. "
www.NoToxGreen.Com

I do not know if it will help I just know with me I can not sleep in a bed. Even if I manage to fall alsleep I wake a short while longer. I can imagine it is not recommended but the only place I can sleep for any time is the couch but then it has to be comfortable. Most likely part of the reason the problem is happening because of being not comfortable at least it is with me. Like I said do not if it will work just know what works for me.

Here is sleep hyeigne which is what we give our patients in the sleep lab where I work. I got this from a web page I will give you at the end I hope it helps.
Poor sleep habits (referred to as hygiene) are among the most common problems encountered in our society. We stay up too late and get up too early. We interrupt our sleep with drugs, chemicals and work, and we overstimulate ourselves with late-night activities such as television.
Below are some essentials of good sleep habits. Many of these points will seem like common sense. But it is surprising how many of these important points are ignored by many of us. Click on any of the links below for more information:


Your Personal Habits

Fix a bedtime and an awakening time. Do not be one of those people who allows bedtime and awakening time to drift. The body "gets used" to falling asleep at a certain time, but only if this is relatively fixed. Even if you are retired or not working, this is an essential component of good sleeping habits.
Avoid napping during the day. If you nap throughout the day, it is no wonder that you will not be able to sleep at night. The late afternoon for most people is a "sleepy time." Many people will take a nap at that time. This is generally not a bad thing to do, provided you limit the nap to 30-45 minutes and can sleep well at night.
Avoid alcohol 4-6 hours before bedtime. Many people believe that alcohol helps them sleep. While alcohol has an immediate sleep-inducing effect, a few hours later as the alcohol levels in your blood start to fall, there is a stimulant or wake-up effect.
Avoid caffeine 4-6 hours before bedtime. This includes caffeinated beverages such as coffee, tea and many sodas, as well as chocolate, so be careful.
Avoid heavy, spicy, or sugary foods 4-6 hours before bedtime. These can affect your ability to stay asleep.
Exercise regularly, but not right before bed. Regular exercise, particularly in the afternoon, can help deepen sleep. Strenuous exercise within the 2 hours before bedtime, however, can decrease your ability to fall asleep.
Your Sleeping Environment
Use comfortable bedding. Uncomfortable bedding can prevent good sleep. Evaluate whether or not this is a source of your problem, and make appropriate changes.
Find a comfortable temperature setting for sleeping and keep the room well ventilated. If your bedroom is too cold or too hot, it can keep you awake. A cool (not cold) bedroom is often the most conducive to sleep.
Block out all distracting noise, and eliminate as much light as possible.
Reserve the bed for sleep and sex. Don't use the bed as an office, workroom or recreation room. Let your body "know" that the bed is associated with sleeping.
Getting Ready For Bed
Try a light snack before bed. Warm milk and foods high in the amino acid tryptophan, such as bananas, may help you to sleep.
Practice relaxation techniques before bed. Relaxation techniques such as yoga, deep breathing and others may help relieve anxiety and reduce muscle tension.
Don't take your worries to bed. Leave your worries about job, school, daily life, etc., behind when you go to bed. Some people find it useful to assign a "worry period" during the evening or late afternoon to deal with these issues.
Establish a pre-sleep ritual. Pre-sleep rituals, such as a warm bath or a few minutes of reading, can help you sleep.
Get into your favorite sleeping position. If you don't fall asleep within 15-30 minutes, get up, go into another room, and read until sleepy.
Getting Up in the Middle of the Night
Most people wake up one or two times a night for various reasons. If you find that you get up in the middle of night and cannot get back to sleep within 15-20 minutes, then do not remain in the bed "trying hard" to sleep. Get out of bed. Leave the bedroom. Read, have a light snack, do some quiet activity, or take a bath. You will generally find that you can get back to sleep 20 minutes or so later. Do not perform challenging or engaging activity such as office work, housework, etc. Do not watch television.
A Word About Television
Many people fall asleep with the television on in their room. Watching television before bedtime is often a bad idea. Television is a very engaging medium that tends to keep people up. We generally recommend that the television not be in the bedroom. At the appropriate bedtime, the TV should be turned off and the patient should go to bed. Some people find that the radio helps them go to sleep. Since radio is a less engaging medium than TV, this is probably a good idea.


Psychological and mental health problems like depression, anxiety and stress are often associated with sleeping difficulty. In many cases, difficulty staying asleep may be the only presenting sign of depression. A physician should be consulted about these issues to help determine the problem and the best treatment.



http://www.umm.edu/sleep/sleep_hyg.htm

I hope this helps

i think in this situations only doctors can help. if you think the same doctor can't solve the problem to this extent, then better consult another doctor.
He can try without any medicine if it works.

Sweety I can empathise so much with your hubby as I too have had ruptured disks and surgery and been unable to drive or much else for almost 2 years and have not been able to work since last April. I am off the medication most of the time as it left a doped up and sick feeling and didn't help with the chronic pain so well! I know too what the sleep problems are like as I too have the same sleep difficulty! I wish I could tell you what helps but unfortunately I haven't found the long term answer myself! I know it sounds silly in some ways but lavender can help you drift off and it occassionally works for me it has to be worth a try right? xxx

The first thing he needs to do is get off the pain meds if he can and tell him to try and not take any of the sleeping pill they are not good for him