Restful sleep can be challenging to get when you have MS. Pain, restless legs, urinary or bowel symptoms, or temperature dysregulation are some of the top symptoms that can interfere with nightly z’s.
While no one likes being sleep deprived, it can be an even bigger issue for people with MS, says Dr. Conway. “Most people with MS have a lower reserve of energy,” and a lack of sleep can worsen MS symptoms, he says.
One review of studies also found a link between sleep disturbance and cognitive dysfunction in MS. Other consequences of poor sleep can include increased pain, anxiety, fatigue, and problems with coordination.
In some cases, sleep difficulties for people with multiple sclerosis may be due to an underlying sleep disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea, says Scott Ireland Otallah, MD, a neurologist who specializes in multiple sclerosis at Atrium Health at Wake Forest Baptist in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He says if a sleep disorder is suspected, getting it diagnosed and treated will reduce the likelihood of a relapse.
Lifestyle modifications such as a regular bedtime and awakening time, limited alcohol consumption before bedtime, and less fluid in general just before bed, may improve sleep.