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Many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have trouble sleeping well. If bladder problems, spasticity, pain, or other sleep disturbances related to MS keep you or your loved one awake at night, you aren’t alone. Poor sleep can worsen MS symptoms during the day, so it’s important to rest well.
“Up all night again,” one MyMSTeam member wrote. “I want to sleep so badly, but I’m not falling asleep.” Another said, “Can’t sleep, and I should be SO asleep after a very busy day, but no.”
You can take many steps to help get a better night’s rest. Tips for improving sleep in the general population, which may also be helpful for those with MS, include adopting a set bedtime each night and limiting the use of stimulants and alcohol. Other strategies are more specific to MS and include finding the right mattress to promote high-quality sleep.
Finding the ideal mattress may help improve your sleep and boost your quality of life with MS. Here’s what you need to know to find the best mattress to help you sleep better.
Although sleep issues aren’t typically among the first symptoms of MS, many MyMSTeam members and their caregivers report having trouble sleeping. One member described how sleep problems may be due to discomfort: “I have so much pain I use five pillows but still can’t sleep well. Sometimes, I sleep in a chair or propped up on pillows in the guest bed in a corner, so most of my weight is on my butt and not on my back.”
“I cannot get comfortable,” wrote another member, adding that they experience “sleepless nights tumbling, trying to get comfortable.”
Several members have given up on sleeping in a bed because they can’t find a comfortable mattress or position. One said, “I’ve been sleeping on the couch for a couple of reasons, but one is I can’t get comfortable in my bed at all.”
“It’s just so annoying trying to sleep, and then, when I do, I wake up so sore, and it’s harder and harder getting out of bed,” another member added. “I’ve tried different mattress pads and sleeping on the couch when I just can’t sleep in bed anymore, and that is OK until I have to wake up and try to get up (sore again).”
Sleep problems can be so frustrating that many members go online to ask about beds that work for other people. “Has anyone tried a magnetic mattress pad, and did you notice any difference?” one member asked. “I’m wondering if it would decrease my back muscle spasms. I know many things are just gimmicks, but some actually do help.”
People with MS and their caregivers should weigh several factors before buying a new mattress.
The wide variety of mattresses includes foam, latex, traditional innerspring, and hybrid types. Some people swear by a certain kind of mattress because it works so well for them.
“Personally, I have fallen in love with a foam mattress,” one member shared. Another wrote that they “have a Sleep Number (Select Comfort) — I love it.”
Even if one type of mattress brings good results, it’s worth trying something else now and then: “A Tempur-Pedic helped for a while, but now a twin memory foam with gel helps the most.”
Many mattress companies offer trials so you can see how a mattress might work for you in the long term. Trial periods typically range from a month to several months, giving you or your loved one a better sense of a mattress’s comfort than a brief in-store test can offer.
If you or someone in your life with MS tends to get too hot or cold in bed, consider trying a mattress with cooling technology or one that’s breathable and doesn’t absorb body heat. This is another reason to choose a mattress that you can test for a while and then return if it doesn’t work well.
One MyMSTeam member discovered that the bed they wanted caused overheating: “I really wanted to like the Tempur-Pedic, but I get night sweats and cramps in my legs, and the few times I slept on one in a relative’s guest room, I found it to be too hot!”
Mattresses come in different levels of firmness, based on how much support they offer your body. Firmness preference may have to do with sleeping position. Back sleepers, for instance, may need a different amount of firmness than side sleepers.
There’s no research regarding what people with MS prefer overall, but many MyMSTeam members have expressed a preference for medium-firm or firm mattresses:
Some people noted that their mattress preferences have evolved. “I’ve found that my MS has changed over the years,” one member wrote. “I used to require a very hard mattress to be comfortable. Then I required a very soft mattress. No, it doesn’t really matter, but I prefer a memory foam mattress.”
Others find that their firmness needs can change based on how they feel from day to day. “We bought a Tempur-Pedic that has adjustable firmness and an adjustable mattress,” one member said. “I wanted something that would give me good support but that I could make less firm if I needed.” This type of bed can help alleviate stress on pressure points or provide pressure relief when needed.
Many people with MS prefer beds they can adjust based on changing comfort needs, as some MyMSTeam members have reported:
A final factor that people with MS and their caregivers should consider when buying a bed involves how easy it is to move around on it and get out of it. Contouring beds may be good for some but not others, especially people with mobility issues.
Ease of movement can be a significant problem for some people with MS. “I have been through about four beds over the last two years, due to me not being able to move around in it or get out of the beds,” one member wrote. Another added, “With a pillow top, I couldn’t roll over at all!”
People with MS and their loved ones may want to choose a bed that’s easier to get out of to conserve strength for the rest of the day, as one member explained: “I have a Vera Wang Serta memory foam. The one downside is I have problems turning over or just rising up to get out of bed. It really does mold around you and uses a lot of what strength you have to start your day with.”
If you can’t afford a new mattress or don’t want to buy one right now, there are some other options for getting comfortable at night.
Many MyMSTeam members love using mattress toppers to improve sleep and comfort and have shared their recommendations:
You might also choose a mattress topper for other reasons, such as cooling your bed, as one member explained: “I bought a cool blue cooling gel mattress topper at the Sleep Number store. It has made all the difference in the world. It doesn’t make you hot, yet it cushions the bed, so I feel like I’m sleeping on a cloud.”
Some people with MS find that pillows can give them support exactly where they need it. One MyMSTeam member described how they arrange pillows under their legs and lower back: “I suggest sleeping with your torso and head slightly elevated. To do this, I turn a king-size pillow lengthwise, and not crosswise like normal. I place one end of the lengthwise pillow at the small of my back. Then, I add a second pillow crossways, directly on top of the first pillow. Next, I use the third pillow to tent my knees. I place it in the crook of the knees. It props the knees up pretty high.”
Another member shared their tips: “If I sleep on my side, I need a pillow that holds my head up high enough to be in perfect alignment with my back. I do this position by doubling the pillow onto itself under my head. I also use a squishy pillow to cushion my knees to keep my legs level with both sides of my hips.”
On MyMSTeam, people share their experiences with multiple sclerosis, get advice, and find support from others who understand.
Do you have trouble sleeping at night because of MS? Do you want to find a new mattress, but you’re not sure where to start? Let others know in the comments below.
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Sleep in my infinite position lift chair. In a Bed for some reason get horrible plantar fascitis (sp) pain.
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