What Causes Pain in Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple Sclerosis is often associated with numbness, weakness, tingling and paralysis, but very little is mentioned about pain with Multiple Sclerosis.  I have suffered with MS for over 15 years and until Montel Williams started talking about the excruciating pain he suffers with his MS, I never knew the pain I had in my back and legs was from my MS.  Here are the facts I have discovered through research about pain associated with MS and what you can try to help improve it.

WHAT CAUSES PAIN WITH MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS?

Many people with MS experience spasticity, or muscle stiffness and spasms. It usually affects the muscles of the legs, arms and back and may interfere with the ability to move those muscles freely.  Spasticity can occur either as a sustained stiffness or as spasms that come and go, especially at night. It can feel like a muscle tightening and can cause severe pain. Spasticity can also produce feelings of pain or tightness in and around joints and can cause low back pain. The intensity may vary depending on your position, posture, and state of relaxation.

What Causes Spasticity?

Spasticity is the result of an imbalance in the electrical signals coming from the brain and spinal cord, often caused by damage to these areas from by MS. This imbalance may cause involuntary contractions of the muscle, and increased muscle tension.

What Triggers Spasticity?

Like other symptoms of MS, spasticity may be aggravated by extremes of temperature, humidity, or infections. It can even be triggered by tight clothing.

What Are The Least Invasive Ways to Treat Mild Spasticity First?

Mild spasticity can be treated by trying some of the following techniques:

- Try changing your daily routine. Limit the amount of walking or moving around you do.  Try it for several   days in a row to see if that helps the spasms to settle down.
- Try gentle exercise by standing and sitting, walking, or other methods that move your body more and help stretch the muscles.  Try this for a few days in a row to see if it helps to settle the spasms.
- Try yoga and other methods of gentle stretching for a few days in a row to see how it affects your muscle spasms.
- Try meditation, listening to relaxing music, a warm bath or shower, positive thinking and other methods of relaxation for a few days in a row to see how it affects your muscle spasms.
- Find a massage therapist who specializes in multiple sclerosis massage. Ask your doctor for a referral.
- Adjust your daily life in any way you think may help the spasms decrease or go away once you have figured out what methods are helpful in your individual circumstances.

What If You Are Still In Pain?

Talk to your Doctor about taking a more aggressive approach to treatment.  Some of the next steps your doctor may recommend are:

Prescription Drugs
Physical Therapy
Occupational Therapy (casts, splints, braces, etc)
Surgery

Above all else, be sure to discuss your pain with your doctor and don’t just try to ignore it.  If spasms are left untreated, they can turn into larger problems and eventually the joint may not move at all.

*Disclaimer – I am not a Doctor.  The advice in this article is passed on to you from research I have done as an MS patient who also suffers from spasticity and from my own experiences with this disease and these symptoms.  Each individual is different and you should always check with your doctor before following the advice of this, or any article found online.