MS nerve pain or Multiple Sclerosis nerve pain is not only one of the most common symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis, but it is also one of the most uncomfortable ones. Multiple Sclerosis attacks the central nervous system and the nerves throughout the body, so it is hardly surprising that Multiple Sclerosis nerve pain is suffered by the majority of people diagnosed with the disease. MS nerve pain is very different from musculoskeletal pain, which is one of the other common symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis, and therefore has to be treated very differently. While musculoskeletal pains can be treated with over-the-counter medications, like paracetamol or ibuprofen, or even stronger opiate painkillers, Multiple Sclerosis nerve pain requires specific medications that act upon the damaged nerves themselves. Your family doctor will be able to help you find the medication that is right for you, if you are suffering from MS nerve pain.
Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis Nerve Pain
MS nerve pain is unlike the aches and fatigue that many people experience with musculoskeletal pain. Patients with Multiple Sclerosis nerve pain are much more likely to experience symptoms such as tingling, numbness, itching, shooting pains in the affected areas and sometimes a painful burning sensation both internally and on the surface of the skin. This MS nerve pain or neuropathic pain often gets worse at night and can often be serious enough to cause mobility problems in affected limbs, perhaps requiring some kind of physical therapy.
Medication for MS Nerve Pain
There are several drugs that are prescribed specifically for Multiple Sclerosis nerve pain, though most were initially developed for other conditions and were then found to have benefits for MS patients. Gabapentin and Carbemazepine are usually prescribed to epileptics, but they also work on Multiple Sclerosis nerve pain by stopping the damaged nerves from going into spasm, one of the major causes of discomfort. Amitriptyline was first used as an antidepressant, before it was also found to have an effect on MS nerve pain. Physical therapy can help to ease the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis nerve pain. You can also prevent it from getting worse through a gentle exercise regime. Natural remedies like capsaicin cream is known to be helpful in alleviating MS nerve pain. If you consider trying alternative remedies, you should consult your doctor first.
