Featuring Barry A. Hendin, MD 

MSAA’s Chief Medical Officer 

Question: What types of problems most often interfere with sleep for individuals with MS?

Answer: High quality sleep is generally recognized as an important health benefit for everyone, and this is especially true for people with MS. Poor quality sleep can increase MS symptoms such as fatigue, pain, daytime sleepiness, anxiety, and depression, as well as difficulties with memory and concentration. Unfortunately, more than half of those with MS have some kind of a sleep disorder or sleep dysfunction, which is a higher proportion than for those in the general population.

There are specific neurological problems that occur more often in MS and can affect sleep, such as restless leg syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea. Sometimes lesion location in sleep centers within the brain can cause sleep disruption. More commonly, people with MS experience sleep problems from the secondary effects of MS, such as depression, anxiety, pain, muscle spasms, and bladder dysfunction with multiple awakenings.

Fortunately, most sleep problems in multiple sclerosis can be managed. Pain, depression, anxiety, spasticity, muscle spasms, and bladder dysfunction can all be treated. Good sleep hygiene improves sleep quality, and this includes avoiding caffeine and alcohol prior to sleep, maintaining physical and intellectual activity during the day, avoiding daytime naps (if possible), and maintaining a regular sleep schedule in a dark and quiet room. For some people, relaxation therapy prior to bedtime improves sleep.

Sleep dysfunction is manageable. Speaking with your clinician regarding the wide variety of options to improve sleep quality is worthwhile for anyone experiencing problems getting a full night’s rest.

Barry A. Hendin, MD, is a neurologist and Director of the Arizona Integrated Neurology MS Center. He is also Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Clinic at Banner University Medical Center and Clinical Professor of Neurology at the University of Arizona Medical School.

MSAA’s Ask the Expert series received a Merit Award from the 26th Annual Digital Health Awards!