Re: Re: Pain in MS--true or not?

[Guest guest]

yes - the tingly starts - then needles and pins - then pain

- nerve ending dead - needs an EMG to see - use the teflon

needles

Re: Pain in MS--true or not?

Date: Sat, 10 Jan 2009 17:30:45 -0000

>Hmmm, Could this be what is experiencing in her leg/s

>(sometimes one leg, sometime both)? She describe it as

> " growing pains " , or very similar to that. She has had it on

>and off for as long as she has had her MS diagnosis, and

>she has thought it was part of the side effects from her

>Rebif treatment (as " growing pains " and " flu ache " can be

>hard to distinguish from one another). But the last month

>or so it has been more or less constant (although not 100%

>constant), and she is starting to wonder if it could be

>something else - part of MS or something not MS - since her

>other side effects are not constant like that.

>

>What do the rest of you think? Have you experienced

>something like that?

>

>love

>/Reb

>

>

>> I took part in a teleconference last year with Dr.

>> Vollmer who is a well-known researcher, MS

>> specialist and the former head of the NARCOMS study at

>> Yale. He moved from Yale to Barrows Neurological

>> Institute in Phoenix several years ago. Dr. Vollmer said

>> 40% of MSers. And here below the NMSS says " almost half

>(48%) " had chronic pain. Have you ever done a web search

>with the terms

>> " MS pain " ? Here are some links you can look at along

>with a small clip

>> (in parentheses) of the percentage they report re: pain

>> in MS. http://www.friendswithms.com/pain_and_ms.htm

>> (Pain is a common occurrence in MS, with 30-50%)

>> http://www.msakc.org/Articles/MSPain.htm

>> (Most of the recent studies show that neuropathic pain...

>experienced by 50% or more of MS

>> patients)

>>

>http://www.mslifelines.com/understanding-ms/symptoms-of-ms/pain.jsp

>> (More than half of the people with MS find that pain is a

>> problem.) http://www.msakc.org/Articles/MSPain.htm

>> (50% or more)

>>

>> And this is a really good one and I recommend it for

>anyone with MS and pain:

>>

>http://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/features/pain-multiple-sclerosis\

>?src=rss_homecare

>> In a national survey of more than 7,000 MS patients, 70%

>> of them had experienced some kind of pain, and at least

>50% were experiencing

>> some kind of pain at the time of the survey, " Bethoux

>>says.

>> MS pain differs from the kind of pain you might get with

>> a headache, a joint injury, or muscle strain. " It's often

>> more diffuse, affecting several areas of the body at a

>time. It often changes over time,

>> getting worse or better for no apparent reason. It tends

>to fluctuate a

>> lot, " says Bethoux. " People often find it hard to

>> describe: It's sometimes described as like a toothache,

>other times like a burning pain, and

>> sometimes as a very intense sensation of pressure. It's

>very distressing for

>> patients because they have a hard time explaining what

>their pain experience

>> is. "

>>

>> hugs)))

>> Sharon

>>

>>

>> Please read this from the National MS Society at

>http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/symptoms/pain/\

>index.aspx

>> Pain syndromes are common in MS. In one study, 55% of

>> people with MS had " clinically significant pain " at some

>time. Almost half (48%) were

>> troubled by chronic pain. This study suggested that

>factors such as age

>> at onset, length of time with MS, or degree of disability

>> played no part in distinguishing the people with pain

>> from the people who were pain free. The study also

>> indicated that twice as many women as men experienced

>> pain as part of their MS. Several Sources and Types of

>> Pain in MS Acute Pain

>> Trigeminal neuralgia is a stabbing pain in the

>> face. It can occur as an initial symptom of MS. While it

>> can be confused with dental pain, this pain is

>> neuropathic (caused by damage to the trigeminal nerve) in

>> origin. It can usually be treated with medications such

>as the anticonvulsants carbamazepine (Tegretol®) or

>> phenytoin®). (Dilantin Lhermitte's sign is a brief,

>> stabbing, electric-shock-like sensation that runs from

>> the back of the head down the spine, brought on by

>> bending the neck forward. Medications, including

>> anticonvulsants, may be used to prevent the pain, or a

>> soft collar may be used to limit neck flexion. Burning,

>aching or " girdling " around the body are all neurologic in

>origin. The technical name for them is dysesthesias. These

>pains are often treated with the anticonvulsant medication

>gabapentin (Neurontin®). Dysesthesias may also be treated

>with an antidepressant such as amitriptyline (Elavil®),

>> which modifies how the central nervous system reacts to

>> pain. Other treatments include wearing a pressure

>> stocking or glove, which can convert the sensation of

>> pain to one of pressure; warm compresses to the skin,

>which may convert the sensation of pain to one of warmth;

>> and over-the-counter acetaminophen (Tylenol® and

others)

>which may be taken daily, under a physician's supervision.

>> Duloxetine hydrochloride

>> (Cymbalta®) was approved by the FDA in 2004 for

treatment

>of depression

>> and treatment of pain associated with diabetic peripheral

>> neuropathy. Cymbalta® belongs to the group of

medications

>> known as selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake

>inhibitors (SSNRIs). Although not

>> specifically approved for use in MS, its effectiveness in

>> diabetic neuropathy makes it a suitable candidate for the

>> treatment of neuropathic pain in MS, and MS specialists

>consider it a good treatment

>> option for people with MS.

>> Pregabalin (Lyrica®), also approved by the FDA in 2004,

>> is recommended for the treatment of neuropathic pain

>> associated with diabetes, fibromyalgia and certain types

>> of seizures. Although not specifically approved for use

>> in MS, it is also considered a good treatment option for

>> people with MS. Chronic Pain

>> Burning, aching, prickling or " pins and needles " may be

>chronic rather than acute. The treatments are the same as

>for the acute dysesthesias described above.

>> Pain of spasticity has its own subcategories. Muscle

>spasms or cramps, called flexor spasms, may occur.

>Treatments include medication with baclofen (Lioresal®)

or

>> tizanidine (Zanaflex®), ibuprofen, or other

prescription

>> strength anti-inflammatory agents. Treatment also

>> includes regular stretching exercises and balancing water

>intake with adequate sodium and potassium, as shortages in

>> either of these can cause muscle cramps. Tightness and

>> aching in joints is another manifestation of spasticity,

>and generally responds well to the

>> treatments described above.

>> Back and other musculoskeletal pain in MS can have

>> many causes, including spasticity. Pressure on the body

>> caused by immobility, incorrect use of mobility aids, or

>> the struggle to compensate for gait and balance problems

>> may all contribute. An evaluation to pinpoint the source

>> of the pain is essential. Treatments may include heat,

>> massage, ultrasound, physical therapy and treatment for

>> spasticity. Pain and the Emotions

>> Most pain in MS can be treated. But not all pain a person

>> with MS has is due to MS. Whatever the source, pain is a

>> complex problem that should not be ignored. Many factors

>> may contribute, including fear and worry. A

>> multidisciplinary pain clinic may be able to treat

>> chronic disabling pain with medication in combination

>> with such alternative therapies as biofeedback, hypnosis,

>yoga, meditation or acupuncture. Self-help may also play an

>> important role in pain control. People who stay active

>> and maintain positive attitudes are often able to reduce

>> the impact of pain on their quality of life.

>>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Reb. Isn't on Rebif? I know in my case that the Rebif brings

that pain on too. Maybe this could be for too.

Jolie