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Sleepwalking, Headache, and Pain

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Just how common is sleepwalking? Estimates range quite a bit, although a study in 2012 suggested that almost 30% of us walk in our sleep sometime in our lives.

Those who sleepwalk on a regular basis do tend to complain that they’re sleepy during the day. But there may be a lot more to the condition than we realize. Sleepwalking is closely related to other disorders, including depression, headache, and migraine.

Sleepwalking, Headache and Migraine
Photo courtesy Herzi Pinki

The relationship between sleepwalking and migraine is a complex one. For example, depression and migraine are also linked. Magnesium levels are linked to both migraine and sleepwalking. Changing sleep schedules are linked to both. Certain medications may affect both, such as antihistamines, mild tranquilizers and a few antipsychotics. Obstructive sleep apnea is also strongly related to both.

This spring a report on a fascinating sleepwalk study was released. The authors of the study confirmed that migraine and headache were highly associated with sleepwalking. (This doesn’t mean that most migraine patients walk in their sleep. It does mean that if you sleepwalk you are much more likely to have migraine.)

But a fascinating twist is that patients were very unlikely to experience pain while sleepwalking. In other words, banging your knee on the table while you’re sleepwalking is unlikely to even wake you up. In fact, one patient fell off his roof and broke his leg, but didn’t wake up until the morning!

There are obviously many mysteries about pain still to be solved. However, there are some key things you can do about sleepwalking, especially if you have migraine as well:

Focusing on your sleep may actually help relieve migraine and stop sleepwalking. It’s funny in fiction, but it needs to be taken seriously in real life.

For more on the recent study into sleepwalking and pain, read Sleepwalkers feel no pain, remain asleep despite suffering injuries from ScienceDaily. Also check out this Sleepwalking Overview from emedicinehealth.

Headache Waking You Up? Could Be Hypnic Headache.

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You’ve noticed it’s starting to happen on a regular basis. All of a sudden, you wake up with a headache.

You didn’t have the headache when you went to sleep. Where did it come from? It may just be mild, but it could be severe – you might even feel sick.

Hypnic Headache - waking you up?Now that you’re awake, the headache lasts for a few minutes – but could even last up to four hours.

And it’s happening several times a week now – twice a week, maybe four times, or even every night.

It’s possible that you have a rare kind of primary headache known as hypnic headache.

But don’t jump to conclusions too quickly. This headache, sometimes known as the “alarm clock headache”, really is quite rare. It tends to happen in people over the age of 50, and it can easily be misdiagnosed.

The reason is that there are many other reasons why you may wake up with a headache. Sleep apnea is a common trigger of certain headaches, for example.

If you wake up feeling restless, it probably isn’t hypnic headache. A hypnic headache generally won’t last for more than 4 hours. And it will wake you up quite often – more than twice a week, often every day.

If you suspect you have hypnic headache, your doctor will want to ask some questions to try to find an underlying cause. Chances are she will give you a different diagnosis. Like I said, it’s rare.

However, if you are diagnosed with hypnic headache, there are some excellent treatments.

A recent study suggested that lithium is the best treatment for these types of headaches. Oddly enough, caffeine consumption upon waking is the second-best treatment. Melatonin or indomethacin may also be tried if these are not effective.

For more information about hypnic headache, check the links below:

Sleep Apnea and Migraine – Comments from You!

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The connection between sleep apnea (sleep apnoea) and migraine is a topic that we’ve covered here more than once.  The September issue of HeadWay (the free headache and migraine ezine) also looked into this link in more depth.

I’ve heard from some of you regarding your experiences…

My 65 year old husband has had migraines since he was a child.  He has never really snored much unless he had a cold.  The symptom that caught the doctors attention 3 years ago was jerking muscles at night.  Sometimes jerking muscles can indicate a lack of oxygen.  An at home oximetry test showed his oxygen level was dropping to 65 at night.  Following a sleep study, CPAP treatment, and oxygen at night his migraine are manageable with Botox and occasional meds now.

To learn more about the oximetry test (pulse oximetry), read What is pulse oximetry? from John Hopkins Medicine.

Sleep Apnea - your comments!

My 40 year old daughter was suffering from debilitating migraines when I subscribed [to HeadWay].  After 2 years and 12 doctors, she was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea and uses a CPap machine and has not had a migraine since then – 7 months. Thanks.

No, it’s not that simple for everyone.  But once again – worth checking out!

I had my first migraine aura w/out pain when I was 30.  Between 30 and 55 I may have had 5 or 6 more episodes.  In my 50’s I gained a great deal of weight and also started having the aura’s 6 to 7 times a year.  I went to a neurologist who did all the testing and again diagnosed migraine aura w/out headache.  Finally I discovered I have sleep apnea.  Since using the CPAP machine I have not had even one aura attack.  My blood pressure has also dropped to 118/78.  I think that I have had sleep apnea all my life (even before I gained the weight).  My aura’s occurred less often before I gained the weight, but my apnea was probably not as severe.  I just hope that everyone knows that sleep apnea can cause these aura’s and the neurologist nor the Optholmologist will necessarily know this.  As a side note one time I even went blind in 1/2 of one eye.  No one should have to be so terrified when the remedy was so simple.

Of course the remedy isn’t simple for everyone.  However, the evidence does suggest that sleep issues are a major factor for many people when it comes to migraine symptoms.

I have had migraines since my teens.  I am 39.  I have had about 2-7 migraines a month since I can remember.  I took every type of medications for them with no relief.  I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea last November.  Since having my CPAP machine which I use every night I have had only 3 migraines in total this year.  Those three I must say were due to stress and perhaps knocking off the head gear of the CPAP machine.  I never thought I would get relieve from my migraines.  Also I am not a zombie anymore…I actually have energy and can last a day without falling asleep in mid sentence!.  It took some getting use to but if I would have known years ago….I would have saved so many wasted days throwing up and in the worst pain of my life with those migraines!  I haven’t lost any weight using the CPAP nor has my blood pressure dropped….but no migraines….that’s worth millions in my book! (Stacy)

Thanks for all your comments!  It’s great to hear some success stories.  Let’s keep the conversation going! 🙂

Headaches? Trouble Sleeping? Try this quick tip…

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Headaches? Trouble Sleeping?

A brisk walk before bed can reduce headache, sleeplessness, and symptoms of migraine.  It can…

  • Reduce fluid retention, fighting some forms of sleep apnea.
  • Reduce muscle tension before bed.
  • Increase circulation.
  • Tone up blood vessels.
  • Help block “bad” chemicals and increase “good” chemicals, reducing pain and other symptoms.

For more, read A Sleep Apnea Mystery Solved?

Poll results – Trouble Sleeping?

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The results are in.  Those of us with migraine and/or chronic headache and/or cluster do, in most cases, also have trouble sleeping.

Trouble sleeping common

At 82%, it was an overwhelming majority of poll respondents that said they had trouble getting a normal night’s sleep.  Although it’s by no means a universal problem, it’s very common.  And not just during an attack.

This certainly fits with what we’ve heard before.  Migraine, for example, has been linked to other conditions such as sleep apnea (sleep apnoea).  Magnesium, a common supplement for migraine sufferers, is used by the body’s sleep cycles.

This is an even greater problem for many with migraine and headache because sleep is exactly what they need to end an attack or avoid future attacks.

A while ago we asked our visitors for ideas on how to get to sleep with migraine – here are their answers.  Have anything new to add?  Leave a comment!

And don’t forget to take part in our new poll, on the right of this page.

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Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of each article, and to point you to further sources of information. However, this site is for informational purposes only and should never replace a visit to your doctor.