MS muscle aches are among the pain symptoms experienced by MS patients on a daily basis. These pains could be acute or chronic. They could also be a primary result of MS or secondary to the disease.
Muscle Weakness and MS Muscle Aches
One of the prominent features of multiple sclerosis is muscle weakness, experienced when the nerves that regulate muscle function are affected by demyelination and inflammation. The development of lesions in the relevant parts of the nervous system affects the transmission of impulses between the nervous system and the patient’s muscles. As a result the muscular movements may be weaker than they typically would be. This results in muscle weakness and exhaustion. The muscles may overcompensate to make up for this, resulting in MS muscle aches.
It is also possible for the patient’s lesions and their impact on his or her muscles to result in general balance and posture problems. Problems with the leg muscles can completely shift the alignment of the patient’s body, changing its center of gravity. In order to remain upright while walking, the patient will have to adopt an irregular gait. This has an impact on the musculoskeletal system, straining some muscles more than they are accustomed to. This affects the patient’s posture negatively. The bad posture that the patient adopts while sitting also strains his or her muscles, causing MS muscle aches in the lower back.
Spasticity and MS Muscle Aches
There is another source of MS muscle aches in patients, and that is spasticity. Spasticity refers to unusual rigidity or tightness in the patient’s muscles. It is a direct result of lesions in the patient’s nervous system and entails the sustained contraction of the patient’s muscles. It is normal for muscles to contract, but not for sustained periods of time as is the case in multiple sclerosis. Rather, they should be able to relax when it is called for. Because of spasticity, a patient’s fist may remain clenched indefinitely, and it may be impossible to alternately bend the arm at the elbow and straighten it. Spasticity combines with muscle weakness (as described in the previous paragraphs) to make it especially difficult for patients to use their muscles to walk or to maintain an upright posture.
Some patients experience pain constantly because of the sustained contraction of their spastic muscles. They gain relief from using medications like Tizanidine and Baclofen, which relax the muscles, consequently eliminating the pain. The problem with medications such as these is that their action is not limited to the affected muscles. They have a general effect, impacting the whole body. Thus, they can cause drowsiness and general lethargy. Botox injections may be used for a more local effect, but they also have possible side effects. Apart from medication, physical therapy and occupational therapy that target the affected muscles are a great help.
