Ever try to sleep but feel like your bed is vibrating beneath you? That might seem very strange, but you’re not alone. If you or a loved one has multiple sclerosis (MS), you’re likely familiar with the most common symptoms of the condition, such as trouble walking, muscle spasms, fatigue, and cognitive difficulties.

Sometimes, however, people with MS experience more unusual sensations. This can include internal tremors, which create a quivering or vibrating sensation inside the body without any visible external movement.

“Anyone ever feel like your bed is vibrating?” asked one MyMSTeam member. “Sometimes, I will be lying on my bed and I feel like there is a slight vibration.” Another member responded, “Me too! I wondered what it was!”

Experiencing internal tremors when falling asleep can be confusing because they happen only inside the body. Internal tremors aren’t necessarily harmful but can be bothersome. Learn more about internal tremors as a symptom of MS, how they’re different from other types of MS tremors, and what you can do to manage them.

Internal Tremors and MS

So, why do you feel vibrations in your body when you sleep? If you have MS and experience body vibrations at night, they might be internal tremors. Internal tremors aren’t uncommon in people with MS or other neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease. A study in the journal Parkinsonism & Related Disorders found that about 36 percent of participants with MS experienced internal tremors.

“I guess I’m not crazy! It’s so weird,” another member wrote of their experience. “This is certainly something I can live with, but I would love to know what causes it.”

Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of research or online information about internal tremors, although they appear to be somewhat common in people with MS.

In MS, the immune system damages the myelin sheath (protective covering) around the nerves in the central nervous system (CNS), including the brain and spinal cord. Signs of MS are linked to the affected nerves and areas of the CNS. For example, when nerve damage occurs in the part of the brain that controls talking or moving, it can lead to motor symptoms like trouble speaking, twitching, and physical tremors.

“I feel it a lot at night or when I’m lying around for a while,” one member said. “I can feel the lower half of my body vibrating, like I’m lying on a vibrating bed.”

For people with MS who have internal tremors, there may also be a connection with anxiety. The study in Parkinsonism & Related Disorders found that participants with MS who experienced an internal tremor reported significantly higher anxiety levels than those with MS who didn’t have internal tremors. This finding doesn’t prove that anxiety caused their internal tremors, but it does highlight a potential link that researchers need to explore further.

One MyMSTeam member described how their internal tremors tend to happen after a long day of overexertion: “I get internal tremors at night, usually at the end of the day, when I’ve done way too much.”

Internal Tremors vs. Tremor

Internal tremors are different from a better-known symptom of MS — visible tremors, known as “tremor.” Compared to an internal tremor, which is more of a subjective feeling experienced by someone with MS, tremor involves uncontrollable shaky or jerky movements. Tremor in MS is thought to be caused by nerve damage and lesions (scarring) in areas of the brain that control movement, like the cerebellum and thalamus.

Other Physical Sensations That Occur With MS

People with MS may also experience other sensory symptoms, like prickling or tingling, numbness, or feelings of burning or electric shock. These sensations are referred to as paresthesia. Nearly 8 in 10 people with MS experience paresthesia.

Managing Internal Tremors With MS

Although internal tremors may not be painful, they can be distracting and bothersome. Just how bothersome may depend on which part of your body is affected and if they have an impact on your mental health.

Because internal tremors are not well understood and may be related to the CNS, you should always bring up this symptom to your medical provider. They may conduct a physical exam and run tests to better understand the tremors. The field of neurology has not yet found a solution for internal tremors, but treatment options to slow MS progression may help with vibrating and other physical sensations.

Many people with internal tremors don’t need immediate medical treatment. However, if the sensations become painful, disrupt your ability to get a good night’s sleep, or affect your quality of life, seek medical advice from your neurologist.

Your doctor may suggest drugs that are typically used for nerve pain, such as gabapentin (Neurontin) and pregabalin (Lyrica). They’ll also consider your lifestyle factors, any comorbid (coexisting) health conditions, and the trade-offs between potential treatments and their side effects.

Managing internal tremors at home could include taking steps to improve your quality of sleep and managing anxiety and stress with MS. The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America offers tips for sleep hygiene with MS, such as using your bed only for sleep and sex and turning in at the same time every night. Following these suggestions may help with sleep problems like insomnia and fatigue.

If you have MS and internal tremors, make an appointment to discuss this symptom with your doctor or neurologist. Depending on your type of MS and other symptoms, your health care team will determine the best treatment plan to help you manage your MS and internal tremors.

Talk With Others Who Understand

MyMSTeam is the social network for people with multiple sclerosis and their loved ones. On MyMSTeam, more than 215,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with MS.

Have you ever had the sensation that your bed is vibrating? How did you manage these unusual sensations? Share your experience in the comments below, or start a conversation by posting on your Activities page.