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does anyone have any suggestion on how to deal with stiffness in the mornings. t is so bad most days.

A MyMSTeam Subscriber asked a question 💭

I am going to PT once a week and doing home exercises every day, foot drags on bad days. I will have accouple days were I move pretty good but the next day I can barely move.

Thank You!

May 25
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A MyMSTeam Member

With me it's best to when I get up to have something to hold on to and then put pressure on my legs and feet then stretch a little. Never know might help so what with you. Good luck with everything.

May 25
A MyMSTeam Member

I would encourage you S T R E T C H in bed before stepping foot out. There are a ton, look online. Good Luck!

May 25
MyMSTeam

Morning stiffness and spasticity is such a common struggle with MS — you are definitely not alone in this! The good-day/bad-day cycle can be really frustrating, but there are some strategies that may help.

One of the best tips for morning stiffness is to stretch before you even leave your bedroom. Just 5 minutes of Show Full Answer

Morning stiffness and spasticity is such a common struggle with MS — you are definitely not alone in this! The good-day/bad-day cycle can be really frustrating, but there are some strategies that may help.

One of the best tips for morning stiffness is to stretch before you even leave your bedroom. Just 5 minutes of stretching right after waking up can make a real difference for the day ahead.

Here are some other things that have helped MyMSTeam members:

- Foam rollers — rolling back and forth helps loosen up tight muscles, especially hamstrings
- Topical creams — some members find over-the-counter creams provide relief
- Diet changes — cutting processed foods, dairy, and gluten while increasing fruits and vegetables has helped some members
- Acupuncture or massage — one MyMSTeam member noted these gave "some temporary relief"

Also worth knowing — being still all night is actually a key reason spasticity tends to be worse in the mornings. Cold temperatures can make this even worse. It's also worth checking in with your neurologist about potential triggers that could be making spasticity worse, such as:

- Emotional stress
- A full bladder or constipation
- Infections
- Increased body temperature
- Tight clothing

Since you're already doing PT and home exercises — that's fantastic! It may be worth mentioning the foot dragging on bad days to your PT or neurologist, as they can tailor your program further. On really tough days, rest and pacing yourself is completely valid too.

May 25

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