Along with pain in other parts of the body, MS foot pain can be one of the most upsetting symptoms experienced by Multiple Sclerosis patients. Multiple Sclerosis foot pain isn’t just uncomfortable; it can also cause mobility problems, affect sleeping patterns and if it isn’t dealt with effectively, it can contribute to feelings of depression and stress. There are plenty of different drugs that can treat Multiple Sclerosis foot pain, though it can sometimes take some experimentation to find the right combination and strength in order to deal with the symptoms. Multiple Sclerosis foot pain is caused by damage to the central nervous system, which then affects nerves throughout the limbs and into the extremities. The nerve damage causes the nerve tissue to go into spasm, leading to stiffness, mobility problems and MS foot pain.
Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis foot pain
MS foot pain can either be musculoskeletal or neuropathic, otherwise known as nerve pain. Neuropathic pain is more common in the feet and is quite different from regular aches and pains. Symptoms of neuropathic MS foot pain can include itching and burning both internally and on the surface of the skin, numbness and shooting or stabbing pains in the affected area. Musculoskeletal foot pain is less common, but much easier to treat, and you can often use over-the-counter painkillers to deal with that kind of MS foot pain. If paracetamol and ibuprofen don’t have any effect on your Multiple Sclerosis foot pain, the chances are your symptoms are neuropathic, in which case a doctor will need to prescribe specialized medication.
How to treat MS foot pain
Neuropathic Multiple Sclerosis foot pain needs to be treated with specialized painkillers, known as anticonvulsants. These are more commonly prescribed to people with epilepsy, but they work in the same way in patients with Multiple Sclerosis by preventing the affected nerves from going into spasm, the cause of MS foot pain. These anticonvulsants include Gabapentin and Carbemazepine, while the antidepressant amitriptyline has also been found to alleviate Multiple Sclerosis foot pain. Physical therapy can also help to relax the affected limbs and nerves, through physiotherapy or massage and there are natural remedies such as capsaicin cream made with hot peppers. If you are going to try alternative therapies, you should check with your doctor first.
