Multiple Sclerosis is an auto immune disease, one of the symptoms of which is MS back pain or Multiple Sclerosis back pain. It is caused when myelin, the protective sheath over the nerves, is attacked and damaged by the body’s immune system. When myelin is damaged, it causes the nerves to wither away. When this happens, the person starts experiencing one or several of the symptoms associated with Multiple Sclerosis. When the damage is in the spine or lower neck region, it results in back pain.
Types of MS back pain
There are two types of pain widely associated with MS back pain. The first is neuropathic pain, which is also referred to as nerve pain. The second type is referred to as musculoskeletal pain, which is caused by general muscle pain. The symptom of pain in the back can be of low intensity and continuous or it can be intense in nature and appear several times a day. No two people diagnosed with MS describe pain in the same way or experience the same level of pain. On an average, people with MS rate Multiple Sclerosis back pain in between 4-6 on a scale of 10. This symptom can also be classed under pins and needles, burning sensation, stabbing pain, tightness (also referred to as the MS Hug), numbness and sharp tingling sensation.
Managing Multiple Sclerosis back pain
There are number of methods adapted to address Multiple Sclerosis back pain. Some people find physiotherapy quite helpful in alleviating pain. In many cases, the body learns to adapt to the pain. In some cases, the pain does not feel as severe as it did initially. Heat, fatigue and anxiety make MS back pain worse, so it is imperative that the patient keeps a check on these external factors. Certain drugs like Carbamazepine, Gabapentin, Amitripyline and Pregabaline are used commonly in the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis back pain. There are also other methods, like massage, heat therapy and even ultrasound that may help in providing relief from MS back pain. Regular and moderate exercise also highly helps in toning the body, while alleviating back pain. Many people prefer this route of treatment rather than conventional medical treatment, as there are no side effects. In rare cases where even drugs don’t help in relieving pain, surgery is performed to cut off the nerve connection to the brain. This is often a last resort when everything else has failed.
