MS & Sleep

 People with MS often have trouble sleeping, but the problems may not be due to the disease itself. Stress, spasticity in the arms or legs, or depression that can come along with MS can interfere with a good night’s rest. MS is also associated with a number of sleep disorders; The most common are insomnia, nocturnal leg spasms, narcolepy, and Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). Studies have also shown that pain, medications, and frequent trips to the bathroom also influenced sleep among MS patients.

MS affects how I sleep in a number of ways. I have extensor spasticity where my legs like to remain straight. Once I get into bed, I experience a number of spasms that straighten my legs, stiff as a board. Adam helps me with stretches that bend my legs. He then helps me onto my side and bends my legs into a relaxed fetal position so I can fall asleep (I have always been a side sleeper and it is more comfortable for my legs to remain bent). I take a couple medications to help me sleep. The first drug I take is called clemastine - my neurologist prescribed it because it has shown, in studies, to help with remyelination - the regeneration of a nerve’s myelin sheath. It is nothing more than an antihistamine however the study uses a larger dose than over-the-counter medications. I take half of what was prescribed in the study because, as you know.  antihistamines can really make you drowsy. I also take a drug to relax my muscles to help me sleep. This combination of drugs helps me to sleep about 3 to 5 hours. Once the drugs wear off, I usually wake up from pain and/or spasticity. I often find that my legs have straightened - my hips and knees remain straight with the legs crossed over at the ankles, I have trouble bending my legs on my own once they have straightened so either I just drift in and out of sleep and deal with the discomfort or I wake Adam and ask him to bend my legs for me. The pain I experience that can also wake me is usually pressure pain in my hip from lying on my side or nerve pain.

Fortunately, I usually get enough sleep for me to be able to function the next day. I know this is not true for all MS patients. Some things that can help you get a better night’s sleep are:

• Get outdoors for some natural sunlight during the daytime. 
• Limit long naps during the day.
• Exercise. Not to the point of exhaustion, but studies have shown that doing some  exercise every day helps you to sleep at night.
• Create a restful atmosphere in the bedroom, free from distractions, noise, extreme  temperatures and light.
• Stretching, yoga, meditation, or a warm bath before bed may help with sleep.

If your sleep problems affect your daily activities, talk to your doctor to have your sleep problems evaluated and explore safe and effective solutions.