Most people with multiple sclerosis will experience some form of pain during the course of their disease. One form of pain is through MS muscle spasms. This is type of cramp that some people will have. Multiple sclerosis muscle spasms can appear early on in the disease, sometimes even before a diagnosis is made. Muscle spasms or cramps can happen at any time, causing them to be frustrating and dangerous to the patient. When a muscle spasm occurs, one of two things can happen. There can be an involuntary movement of the muscle, causing a twitch or a sudden tic. There can also be a complete stiffness of the muscle, like a sudden paralysis or complete cramp. Both types of muscle spasms can be painful.
Muscle spasms can be caused due to the process of demyelination that happens during the neurological disease. Demyelination occurs when there is damage done to the myelin sheath that protects nerves. This can disrupt the signals that are sent throughout the nervous system, causing muscle spasms and cramps. Lesions on the brain and spinal cord can also put pressure on certain areas, causing these specific problems. MRI testing can be helpful to see if there are lesions and nerve damage in specific areas that cause problems.
Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis Muscle Spasms
There are many different treatment options for multiple sclerosis muscle spasms or cramps. Some of them are traditional treatments, like prescription medications. Other treatments are alternative, such as vitamins, supplements, or exercises. By seeing a medical professional, you will know which type of treatment is the best option. It may be a combination of the two. Multiple treatments may need to be tried before the right one is found for the types of muscle spasms that a patient experiences, whether it is involuntary movements or paralysis.
Exercise can be an effective treatment for some types of muscle spasms. The exercise should be a gentle type, like yoga or Pilates. Sometimes, medical professionals will recommend water exercises. This type of exercise can help to keep the muscles limber and strong. When doing exercise while living with multiple sclerosis, it is important to remember to keep it gentle and not to do too much.
Prescription medications are a traditional treatment that will often be prescribed to help with muscle spasms. They will often be used from the start of the diagnosis to help with other nervous system problems as well. These medications can be injections or intravenous drips.
