Many people suffering from Multiple Sclerosis also suffer from muscle contractions that cause sudden and uncontrolled movement of the limbs, often referred to as MS Contraction. Three out of four people suffer from this symptom. Spasms cause the muscles to tighten and then they do not relax. Different people react in different ways to this. A leg may go stiff for one person and limp for another. It affects mobility and everyday chores would require an extra effort. This can make people suffering from MS Contraction tired or fatigued. Such a condition also makes it difficult for a person to sleep.
Treatment options for MS Contraction
The aim of treatment for MS Contraction is to help people to do what they need to do, while reducing the pain and discomfort. This is done by reducing the stiffness of the muscles and the work needed to perform daily activities. This can be done through stretching exercises that strengthen and tone the muscles. Apart from this, there is also physical therapy that helps a person to take better control of the muscles. Finally, medication helps to relax and heal the muscle. Medication is also used in an attempt to bring the body back to its original condition. This gives a person suffering from multiple sclerosis greater freedom of movement, besides increasing the strength and coordination. Often, contractions in the leg give a false sense of strength returning to the leg. This is due to the spasm, rather than healing, but it does help in holding the weight of a person.
Handling MS Contraction
Medication often provides just a temporary relief from MS Contraction but it has been found that muscle strengthening exercises can handle this symptom more effectively. In case the problem persists or deteriorates, it could result in the patient feeling depressed or stressed. They may even require counselling to accept this new limited state of mobility. If the lower limbs are affected, it may be appropriate to use some sort of assistance like a walker or a walking stick for additional support. If the upper limbs are affected, the patient will need to get used to spending more time to finish a particular task, due to the limitations in mobility. This can be quite frustrating. A lifestyle change needs to be adapted in order to make up for the additional time and limitations it might require to do a task. MS patients also need to develop a regular habit of doing muscle strengthening exercises.
