Abstract
Although the idea that pain is not a symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS) continues, many studies have confirmed that over half of MS patients complain of pain. In some patients, it may be in part a result of the exacerbation of the disease. In other patients, it is an acute pain problem such as trigeminal neuralgia, bladder spasms, acute dysesthesia, Lhermitte′s phenomenon or painful tonic spasms. In even more cases, it is chronic pain that can take the form of dysesthesia, or repeated muscle spasms and aching. Although MS can cause pain, increasing disability can also produce other complications that are painful such as pressure palsies, decubiti, the effects of poorly fitting wheelchairs, or the musculoskeletal pain that results from the effort to maintain head position and posture with weakened muscles. All of the problem that MS patients experience do not necessarily result from their MS. MS patients can develop all of the medical conditions and pain situations that afflict the rest of the population, and these are usually manageable when the correct diagnosis is made and the approach is focused. Overall, most of the conditions causing pain in MS can be prevented, eliminated or improved, and the remaining patients with chronic pain are managed with strategies that are useful in approaching chronic pain in other situations.
Highlights
RÉSUMÉ: Bien que l’on persiste à croire que la douleur ne soit pas un symptôme de la sclérose en plaques (SP), de nombreuses études ont confirmé que plus de la moitié des patients qui en sont atteints se plaignent de douleur
PAIN AND MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS Many physicians were taught in medical school that pain is not a symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS), and this is still a prominent belief among physicians, which is surprising because recent studies have shown that pain is a significant problem for 29% to 81% of patients with MS [1,2]
Studies at the Dalhousie MS Research Unit, Halifax, Nova Scotia and in other similar clinics have shown that about 55% of patients experience significant pain as a symptom of their disease [3,4,5,6]
Summary
RÉSUMÉ: Bien que l’on persiste à croire que la douleur ne soit pas un symptôme de la sclérose en plaques (SP), de nombreuses études ont confirmé que plus de la moitié des patients qui en sont atteints se plaignent de douleur. Associated painful conditions Poorly fitting wheelchair causing buttock, back, limb and neck pain Muscle tension; fibromyalgia Osteoporosis pain Effects of therapy (bladder spasms from cyclophosphamide; avascular necrosis of the hip from steroids) Compression neuropathies Decubiti Falls and fractures Burns due to poor sensory perception During the first years of her illness, she had repeated attacks of numbness and weakness in her legs, severe fatigue, and an episode of right optic neuritis with painful movements of her eye, which cleared rapidly when she was started on steroids (1000 mg of intravenous methylprednisolone given daily for three doses).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
