I have always been considered a little of a “night owl.” It seemed I never really got going until late afternoon and did not get sleepy until 3 or 4 in the morning. However, I was able to adjust to school and work for the most part.

I had an operation in 1999 while I was in the military. I was 27 years old. I had a spinal epidural for the operation and had severe complications following the operation. I had a severe spinal headache that lasted almost a month. In order to correct the situation, I had three spinal blood patches but none of them worked.

Since that time, I have suffered from severe back pain, frequent migraines depression, insomnia, loss of memory, loss of energy, loss of thought pattern, sciatica, restless leg syndrome, and have developed arthritus [arthritis]. I have taken part in physical therapy and have been treated by neurologists. Nothing has helped. I have been subscribed anti-depressants and pain medication but obviously neither really treats the problems; it just masks what is going on.

In the last few years I have developed a more serious problem when it comes to sleeping. It is like I have developed a phobia of even trying to go to sleep because it is so frustrating trying to fall asleep. The only way I can go to sleep is wait until I am extremely sleepy around daybreak and then go to bed. Of course, this causes major problems when it comes to work and helping my wife take care of the children during the day. However, if I do not sleep at this time I never feel even the slightest bit rested. I can take sleeping medications and sometimes go to sleep at night but I never sleep well and wake up tired. As I stated before, the only time to sleep well is during the morning and early afternoon.

I have tried many things to correct my “biological clock.” I have actually remained awake for two days at a time before going to bed in the evening hoping I would fall asleep and then be on a normal sleep schedule. But even when I do this, I am unable to fall asleep until around daybreak. I have concluded it is not possible for me to keep a typical sleep schedule. My physician and other healthcare professionals that I see are beyond frustrated because they cannot seem to help me. As a matter of fact, my neurologist recently told me he can no longer see me because he is not sure what to do. I thought I had insomnia until I started doing some research.

It appears I may suffer from PTDSPS. Maybe when I suffered the spinal injury in 1999 it somehow messed with my biological clock. That is when the major problems started with sleep. The symptoms of PTDSPS seem to fall right in line with my situation. I plan to mention DSPS to my physician on my next visit to see what she thinks. Otherwise, I will continue to struggle with sleep, and as a result, with life in general. I currently receive disability but that is not ideal because I love to work in my field (social work).