Medically reviewed by Federica Polidoro, M.D. /
Written by Brooke Dulka, Ph.D. and Emily Wagner, M.S.
People with multiple sclerosis (MS) often spend their nights dealing with sleep disturbances. Inadequate sleep can worsen fatigue, another common symptom of MS.
MyMSTeam talked with Dr. Jacqueline Nicholas to find out what causes problems with sleep in people with MS and which strategies can help them get a better night’s sleep. Dr. Nicholas is a neurologist specializing in neuroimmunology and MS. She’s currently director of MS research at the OhioHealth Multiple Sclerosis Clinic in Columbus, Ohio.
“My patients will commonly tell me that either their sleep is a major issue or they’re just not getting good sleep,” Dr. Nicholas said. “The good news is that there are things that we can do to help when we know about it. It’s very dependent on the individual and their problems, but we can work with our patients to help them get good rest at night.”
7 Tips for Managing MS Sleep Problems
Dr. Jacqueline Nicholas provides some tips for managing sleep problems for those living with MS. Sponsored content appears before this video.
MS Muscle Cramps and Night Sweats Can Interrupt Sleep
MS is a chronic disease of the brain and spinal cord, which make up the central nervous system (CNS). Symptoms vary among people with MS, but motor and cognitive problems are among the most common, along with sleep disturbances. “Between leg cramps, muscle twitches, and neuropathic pain, it’s no wonder I don’t sleep well,” one MyMSTeam member said.
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