When most people think of Multiple Sclerosis, they think of the neurological debilitation of the condition. They associate it with loss of body function and ability. But there is a side of Multiple Sclerosis that is very real for sufferers. It is the side of pain.
How Many People Suffer From MS Pain?
Pain is an issue for many Multiple Sclerosis sufferers. According to a national survey of 7,000 MS sufferers, 70% had experienced some form of pain at one time or another. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, nearly half of all MS sufferers deal with chronic pain. It is a real issue that has been overlooked and is often misunderstood.
What is MS Pain Like?
MS sufferers seem to have a hard time describing their pain. It seems that it is different for everyone and it ranges anywhere from what feels like a toothache in several areas of the body to a burning sensation. The pain from MS has even been described as an intense feeling of pressure.
Pain felt by Multiple Sclerosis sufferers can be very distressing. The pain affects several areas of the body at once and it can change at any given time with no explanation or reason. Sufferers also seem to have a difficult time describing their pain. This has made understanding, classifying and handling pain very difficult for physicians, but there are a few common pain classifications that do exist for Multiple Sclerosis pain.
Most Common Types of MS Pain
There are currently five classified types of pain for MS patients. These classifications aim to describe the pain that MS sufferers feel as accurate as possible:
- Burning, aching or “girdling” pain around the body – Commonly referred to by physicians as dysesthesia. Pain is most often felt in various points on the body and pain can persist for short or long periods of time.
- Acute MS pain – Acute MS pain is often intense when it occurs, but it usually lasts for only a short period of time. Pain comes and goes suddenly, without warning. Sensations associated with this type of MS pain include shooting, tingling, stabbing or burning in various parts of the body.
- Trigeminal neuralgia – Often referred to as “tic doloureux.” Classified by a stabbing sensation in the face. It is most often triggered by various types of facial movement. Triggers can include, but are not limited to, touch, yawning, washing the face, brushing teeth or even chewing. MS sufferers often confuse this with dental pain because of its location.
- Lhermitte’s sign – Electrical-type shock or stabbing sensation that starts at the back of the head and runs down the length of the spine. Bending the neck forward is most often the trigger of the sensation and it is brief in nature.
- Chronic pain – Chronic pain is any pain that lasts for more than a month. Sufferers have described chronic pain as anything from aching or tight joints to muscle cramps and even musculoskeletal pain. This type of pain can even cause depression because of the long suffering period.
When to Talk to Your Doctor About MS Pain
Most doctors want to help ease the suffering of their patients. MS is no different, but in order for your doctor to help, you have to let them know that you are in pain. Your doctor will want to know what type of pain you are experiencing so you will need to be able to describe the pain, to the best of your abilities. Your doctor will also want to know how long you have been experiencing pain. Answering these questions accurately is important in helping your doctor determine how to best treat your MS pain.
Treating MS Pain
Muscle and back pain in MS sufferers can be treated with the use of over-the-counter aspirin or acetaminophen. Physical therapy may also help to strengthen and stretch muscles that are contributing to back pain.
Trigeminal neuralgia can be treated with anti-convulsant drugs, but they do not always work. Surgery may be an option, if medication does not prove to be an effective form of treatment.
Tingling and burning sensations in MS sufferers are very difficult to treat. Electrical stimulation to the nerve endings may be helpful, but in most cases, antidepressants or codeine are prescribed to help ease the suffering.
Chronic pain is also difficult to treat because it is a long-term issue. Further compounding the issue is the fact that the pain can worsen or change over time. Anti-inflammatories are sometimes used but any MS patient that suffers from chronic pain should keep an open line of communication with their doctor to ensure that treatment is working and that pain has not altered during the course of treatment.
You should also know that some medications can have serious adverse effects, especially if taken for long periods of time. Talk to your doctor if side effects from medications seem to be unbearable. Most of all, talk to your doctor about any pain or changes in pain immediately.