We hate to state the obvious but…

A while ago a study was published that showed that one of the main causes of fatigue in people living with multiple sclerosis was difficulty sleeping.

Upon sharing these findings, a response was posted from one of our community members that pointed out that the findings were extremely unsurprising. Of course lack of sleep causes fatigue!

It is one of those things though, that while it may seem obvious to people living with multiple sclerosis, it isn’t always as clear for others. Indeed, it becomes another one of these invisible symptoms that we’ve been talking about in this issue of Intouch.

There is often a perception that fatigue is just part of having multiple sclerosis and in some ways it is, but why this research is so important is that problems with sleep and the fatigue it results in can often be addressed. (Unlike some other symptoms).

Many factors can impact on the amount and quality of sleep for people living with multiple sclerosis. The first one is obstructive sleep apnoea – a condition where breathing is interrupted during sleep. It has been found that this condition is much higher in people living with sclerosis than the general population, although it often goes unrecognised.

Obstructive sleep apnoea has been linked to fatigue and cognitive difficulties, both common symptoms in multiple sclerosis. The condition can be relatively easily treated by using specialised equipment that is worn at night to help ensure that normal breathing is maintained. 

Insomnia, or the difficulty falling or staying asleep is also a problem that can be experienced by many people living with multiple sclerosis. Studies have suggested that almost half of people living with multiple sclerosis are at an increased risk of suffering from insomnia, which can be caused by many common symptoms such as chronic pain, bladder issues, spasticity and depression. 

Whilst depression can cause insomnia, insomnia has also been shown to potentially lead to a worsening of depressive symptoms. This means that targeting and treating insomnia in people with multiple sclerosis may help reduce other symptoms that are experienced beyond the sleeping difficulties. The treatment of insomnia often begins by trying to identify the possible causes of it and addressing them, which can include the assessment of some medications that are commonly used by people living with multiple sclerosis and the time of day they are taken.

Lastly, restless legs syndrome is another condition that is more common in people living with multiple sclerosis that can affect sleep. Restless legs syndrome is an uncomfortable or ‘restless’ sensation in the legs that often occurs in the evening and is made worse by inactivity. Once again, it is important that the problem is identified, as treatments do exist that may help relieve this issue and allow for better sleep.

Fatigue comes in many different forms for people living with multiple sclerosis, but it is important to understand what could be contributing to it. Sometimes changing just one thing can make a big difference.

The above article was commissioned by MS Limited and has previously been published in their eNewsletter, Intouch.

Read other articles we have written on the topic of fatigue by clicking here.