Medication, physical therapy, behavior modification and even surgery can all be used to deal with multiple sclerosis pain. The best approach for you depends on the severity of the pain, the type of pain you are feeling and what might be causing it. Generally, multiple sclerosis pain can be caused by nerve damage, but just the stiffness the disease creates can make it difficult to move around.
An autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis damages the central nervous system. It can affect any of the nerves in the brain or spinal cord. As a result, people who have multiple sclerosis can have a range of symptoms in any area of the body. Symptoms can include muscle spasms; difficulty in walking or maintaining balance; weakness, numbness or other sensations in the limbs; and coordination problems, to name a few.
Symptoms for multiple sclerosis pain can vary for each person. You can experience symptoms for days, weeks or months. Some people often experience a reduction in symptoms, or relapse. Still, multiple sclerosis is progressive, and symptoms usually worsen during the final stages of the disease.
Multiple sclerosis pain usually is caused by lesions or plaque in the brain or spinal cord. The pain that it causes can range from mild to severe. It can come and go or remain constant. Sensations caused by the pain include shooting, stabbing or burning sensations. The pain also can manifest as sensations of cramping, spasms or tightness.
The pain caused by multiple sclerosis can be defined as serious if it is severe enough to affect daily living. Every person has a different tolerance level for pain. If the pain is serious enough to be troubling to you, some form of treatment plan is in order.
Medication is one way to deal with multiple sclerosis pain. Of course, some medications can lead to side effects that are equally disturbing. Be sure to find out about any possible side effects before taking medication for multiple sclerosis pain. You might also have to decide whether the side effects or the multiple sclerosis pain have a greater impact on your daily life.
Some people find relief from multiple sclerosis pain by using physical therapy. This can include massage, exercise or other forms of physical therapy. Some exercise can relieve symptoms, but they also can make multiple sclerosis pain worse in some cases.
Behavior modification also can help relieve multiple sclerosis pain. This can include taking up a hobby or getting involved in a support group. Often, doing meaningful work and being around others can help take your focus off your multiple sclerosis symptoms.
