More than just a pain in the butt! Pain and MS.

Pain and multiple sclerosis, really is a bit of a pain in the head wondering how to put this forward (just to mention metaphorically speaking!). Like many things in MS they sound like things normal, average, healthy, living being thing would go through but with MS there always is that little extra bit of spice.

Like all the symptoms there are different avenues to their cause and they vary in severity but all are due to damaged nerves, pain in MS can be in different ways and forms which will be discussed below. But to start, a few ways in which an MSer may describe the pain they feel: Squeezing or crushing, Cold,Hot or burning, Sharp, Dull, Like ants under my skin or ‘creepy crawlies’, Like a build up of pressure, Stabbing, Creeping, Like an electric shock, Aching, Pins and needles. Those are the few that are noted down!

Optic neuritis again for starters; when the optic nerve or any nerve in that matter is damaged it is known to be 'inflamed'. Due to this symptom, an MSer may not even realise a vision loss but they will most definetely complain of the pain, especially immediately after damage episode starts. Simply put when we move an eye to change direction or look at something else or in some cases look to your far left or right/ up or down, there is an extreme burning like feeling like your eye is being pulled out by a hook from the side.

Next being trigeminal neuralgia pain,the trigeminal nerve is the nerve that is responsible for the sensation your face. If this nerve is inflamed it can leave a sharp stabbing pain on your face, it has been described as one of the worst types of pain a human can face. Damage to the brain stem can also result in this symptom, this type of pain can lead to an MSer thinking there's something wrong with their teeth or jaw and in my case being a bit of a yo-yo between the dentist and the GP.

Then there's the 'MS hug', it is everything but as nice as your normal hug. A feeling of being crushed or squeezed due to damage in the spinal cord, a lesion on the spine leading to a painful band around the chest. At first an MSer may get very worried thinking it's due to issues with their heart and thus get sent for ECG scans to make sure their heart is beating properly! Especially being of an Asian heritage known for our food fancies and heart issues it can be even more worrying!

Lhermitte's pain, Lhermitte being a European guy that is dead. But the Lhermittes phenomenon is something that is seen in MS and related spinal injuries. This is when an MSer were to move their neck, to look up, left or right and a quick zip ( electric shock type) from the neck down to the toes, so people who may have this symptom may do whatever it takes to keep their neck straight and not move it.

Burning limb pain; not a specific pain but due to damage anywhere on the sensory pathways, it can lead to abnormal weird, ' ouchy' feeling. Something that is hard to describe, sometimes best describe as a leg not feeling right and being really painful.

Only few more to go! With the recently mentioned spasticity symptom when the muscles may be almost at war with each other  ( one part wanting to relax and the other contract) it can lead to a type of pain. To put things in context if anyone ever wanted to get an idea of this type of pain and had 5 hours or so to spare, clinch a fist for 5 hours and try to open your hand or click your fingers and a similar type of pain can be felt, this would also cause painful cramps in an MSer but it is somewhat a normal thing for an MSer with this symptom.

Almost done now! Due to the nerve damage in the brain, it can cause random migraine like pain and this may be the only type in which the 'cure for all conditions' for people of the subcontinent (stereo typically!) may be helpful for, yes Paracetamol!

More secondary pain may be knock on effects of other symptoms, like bruises or cuts on the body from falling over or a limp in the walking pattern ( due to symptoms like foot drop or 'gait' issues [still to be mentioned don't be frightened!]) resulting in pain in joints due to an abnormal 'rubbing' on the knees or hips whilst walking ( see for video for example below).

This would probably sum up the pain related symptoms of MS: Neuropathic pain is caused by MS nerve damage in the brain and spinal cord. Nerve damage might cause a range of sensations, from minor irritations to intense sharp or burning pains.

Musculoskeletal pain is the pain in muscles and joints that comes from living with the stresses and strains MS places on the body. For example, difficulties with balance, fatigue or muscle weakness could lead to problems with posture, putting a strain on joints, ligaments or other muscles.

 Lastly, I promise! The drugs used for these symptom can have very severe side effects, though I won't go into too much depth now but for neuropathic pain which can be anywhere there is damage, a very common and vouched for 'homeopathic' or complementary treatment that is used is marijuana, I was approached by a 'dealer who somehow heard of me and MS and told me he had a lot of customers with MS and offered me his details. I will be unfortunately or fortunately have to be a  a killjoy so marijuana, drugs and MS will be saved for a sunny day hopefully! I apologise if this does hurt to read, but this is multiple sclerosis!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuuNtaLvwA8