Sleep Disorders in Multiple Sclerosis

People with MS need their rest! Unfortunately, these two common sleep problems can rob them of their Zzzz. If you want to sleep better, start watching this video right now!

Please share you experiences, opinions, questions and comments below. I look forward to reading each of them!

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LEARN about MS with me, Aaron Boster MD! I started this channel to help my own MS patients learn between clinic visits. I use easy-to-understand language to provide accurate and approachable Multiple Sclerosis education. So, if you’re impacted by MS and want to up your game, make sure to SUBSCRIBE to my channel right now!

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NOTE: Make sure to talk to your provider before ANY treatment decision. We hope to educate, empower and energize those impacted by Multiple Sclerosis. This channel consists of a collection of formal lectures and informal video clips about MS to help education others. These videos do not provide medical advice and are for informational/educational purposes only. The videos are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen in any of our videos. They are just to help educate you about the condition guys!

[abbypaige]

I have really bad reastless legs at night. Go to my doctor about it.

[nataliacoronado]

I really liked how there was a brief summary at the end, also enjoyed but completely out-of-topic, your outfit! Thank you for sharing Dr

[tiabia]

My issue with sleep disorder is not just restless leg syndrome but I also use the bathroom at least 2-3 times in the middle of the night. Yes I have MS

[RonaldBeirouti]

Thanks for covering sleep. This is one of my biggest problems. And from seeing other people on FB groups it seems to be common with others. Several of us share the pattern of waking up in the middle of the night and not be able to go back to sleep. It's frustrating because there is little information about this form of insomnia. Most is about falling asleep after going to bed.

For example, In my case, I wake up around 3am and half the time, I can't fall back to sleep. No RLS, OPA. I had a polysomnography showing I had a "poor sleep architecture probably caused by MS" according to a first sleep doctor. A second sleep doctor referred me to cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) and a book where we need to follow the steps religiously because it's extremely hard to do.

- First we learn about sleep hygiene. I was doing all the right things already.
- Then you need to keep a sleep diary where you need to count the amount of time you spend in bed and the amount of time you sleep for each night (and day).
- After a week, you calculate the average number of hours you SLEEP per night.
- Then you go to bed at a fixed hour and set an alarm and wake up after you have spent the number of sleep hours in bed. Whether you have slept the whole night, half the night or not at all.
It's really hard because the first weeks, you feel like a zombie. For example, if your average number sleeping was, say, 7. You then go to bed at 10:30 sharp every night. You set your alarm and get up at 5:30. But if you did not sleep for three hours that night, your next day is horrible.
Over time, your body gets used to sleeping when in bed.

Other couple of things... you keep your sleeping diary. At the end of each week, if the average number of hours sleeping is more than 90% of the number of hours in bed you can increase just a bit time in bed. If it's less than 85% you need to shorten a bit the time in bed.

The other thing is that if you find yourself not sleeping while in bed, get up and do something quiet (e.g. reading a book, not computer or phone) and not in bed. Go back to bed after half an hour. Bed needs to be associated to sleep (and sex) only.

The logic of it all is that if you are able to do prolonged periods of sleep you will enter the deep sleep phases that are the most restaurative. If you wake up several times a night your brain doesn't get the rest it needs. Sleep meds also don't get you in the deep restaurative phases of sleep.

CBT-I has helped but there is room for much more improvement given that fatigue and cognition are the other big challenging symptoms. And what is frustrating is that most information about sleep disorders is about not being able to fall asleep where several of us with MS just wake up and can't fall back to sleep.

Are there things people with MS can do with regards to early waking. I've tried light therapy before bed, melatonin, sleep meds unfortunately, because the stop working and it took a while to wean from them.

[doctorkenk]

I don’t have these symptoms. I suffer from insomnia. Another great vid, Aaron.

[KaraB]

Was waiting for this vid! I have sleep apnea along with 3 other family members. I did the sleep clinic in 2013 got a CPAP machine used it for a bit and stopped bad bad I know but I seemed to be sleeping better. Now I have a recently diagnosed underactive Thyroid and pleasantly gained 30 lbs; hence sleep apnea returned. Now I'm recalibrating my machine and have to get back on it. Morning headaches are brutal and I wake up with 5 spoons some days! Get to a sleep lap and use your machine you feel much better... I take magnesium for restless legs. Now how to fix insomnia and middle of the night waking! Grrr. Great vid thx for info!!

[HeartRobsten]

I often get restless legs at night, it is so, so, SO annoying! Might talk about it with my MS nurse! Thanks for this video :)

[AJHR]

Hi Aaron, this vlog was well received. Some of the most notables quandaries in MS is lack of sleep. Thank you for addressing this topic!! I take Ambien it really helps me!

[marietrotter]

You are an amazing doctor and when I go and see my neurologist here in Canada I am going to be playing your downloaded videos for her thank you Aaron😊

[danicanada]

I have self diagnosed restless leg syndrome. I purchased a weighted blanket several years ago and have found it to help in every way, even leg jitters. I decided to try this before any types of medication. I take plenty of other prescribed drugs so I figured it might be worth a try. It's been significantly helpful thus far.

[dion]

Thank you for one more great, informative and helpful video. We are looking forward for your next topic.

[pnooom]

I take baclofen for my legs 25mg a couple of hours before going to bed and then I'll do some stretches before retiring. It's working for now but gives me weak legs during the day. I can't walk a mile without the need for a good sit down. Also at night when they spasm, it'll only be one leg that's the problem. Generally the right leg but occasionally the left, never both at the same time.

[DarraghMcGannSinger]

This is another fantastic insight into common issues that might cause fear or upset without knowing what they are. For me, its trying to actually get to sleep. I take Amitriptyline 20mg at night for nerve pain and headaches, but rather than relax me, it wires me. It can take me hours to get to sleep and now I find in the middle of the day, I can fall asleep for 2 to 3 hours on the armchair. Thing is when I wake, I cannot function for some time. I am a complicated being!!

[WORRO]

I sleep great, my deal is the restless legs, it starts early in the day and goes to bedtime, when I go to sleep it never wakes me up. The RLS is a killer though. Awesome video and info. Thumb's up!~John

[sravanichandana]

Very informative! Thank you Dr. B. I experienced so many restless nights due to problems in breath and sometimes leg cramps. When I started breathing exercises in yoga my sleep get improved but still sometimes facing severe pain on one leg.

[SimpleEnglishHub-]

Live with MS since 23 - prob much earlier- 16. female. İ never sleep almost. none of these syndromes. İ either cant fall asleep or wake up at 2:00 am and cant go back to sleep.

[bongoscongasantiquecashreg]

My mom has hot feet & cramping that causes her to not sleep well plus she is getting up to walk & not always stay on the bed & she has moderate MS & just hurts me seeing her like this. She takes trazadone to help her to sleep but she doesn't stay asleep. Plus I have to sleep & then she wakes me up & stay awake the whole day plus she expects me to stay up & always says don't go to sleep I need you to stay awake UGH my life is not a joy & not the happy life I used to have & spend a lot of days just crying remembering the happy fun times spent with my mom so this spring time is full of sadness that will never go away until my mom can be better then what she is now!

[mmdaviesmd]

Hi Aaron, I find your videos very informative and insightful. I do not have a diagnosis of MS but I have been experiencing a vast number of neurological symptoms which could be related to MS (although my first major episode was diagnosed as a TIA (22/11/18)even though my symptoms have progressed since the TIA, been intermittent and can vary in serverity. I have also just been diagnosed with sleep apnea and now have a CPAP machine (received just this week. Wearing the machine takes some getting used to but appears very efficient, quite and advanced (my husband can vouch for no more snoring and he is reaping the benefits). However, it is very early days to see if it will help with my fatigue but I will let you know.

[jeathtunes]

That's one funny video im in tears.

P.s i suffer from restless legs quite often at night. I find that camomile tea before bed helps me.

[kellypawspa]

Omg last month ive been getting restless leg syndrome all over my body.... Never just my legs. Most of the time with a tingling or itching sensation under my skin. I cant stand it anymore... I'm exhausted. Is this related to M.S.?