Is back pain associated with MS?

Back pain is another common symptom of MS. There are a number of reasons people with MS may have back pain. For example, they may experience pain due to damaged nerves. Medical professionals refer to this as neuropathic pain.

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What does MS back pain feel like?

Neck and back pain: Some people with MS can experience neck and back pain. This may be due to immobility, or to the same type of wear and tear that many people without MS experience. This type of pain is often an aching, stiff sensation that can be moderately severe.

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Can multiple sclerosis start with back pain?

Back pain is one of many symptoms associated with MS. A variety of treatments may help alleviate your pain.

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Can MS lesions cause back pain?

MS breaks down the layer of myelin and leaves patients with unprotected nerves that do not work as well as they should. As a result, patients may experience a number of uncomfortable symptoms, including spine pain.

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Why does MS cause lower back pain?

One classic cause of back pain in multiple sclerosis is a phenomenon called Lhermitte's sign, which refers to a shock-like sensation or a "wave of electricity" that moves rapidly from the back of a person's head down through their spine.

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Managing Pain and Sleep Issues in MS: Part 1- Pain in Multiple Sclerosis

15 related questions found

Where is back pain felt with MS?

If a person has neuropathic pain in their back, it can manifest as a sharp, stabbing, or shooting sensation. A person may also experience a burning sensation in the lower back. This pain can feel as if it moves from the lower back into the leg.

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What part of your body hurts with MS?

Tightness or stiffness of the muscles, called spasticity, is caused directly by MS. Spasticity, will alter walking and cause pulling on the joints. This can result in pain typically in the ankles, knees, hips and back.

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Can MS be seen on spine MRI?

MS lesions are present throughout the spinal cord, and spinal cord MRI may play an important role in the diagnosis and follow-up of MS patients.

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Can you see MS on a back MRI?

Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is a wonderful tool to help diagnose and follow people with MS. MRI is safe and relatively non-invasive yet can provide very detailed images of the brain and spinal cord that can reveal MS lesions (also known as demyelination, spots, or plaques) and changes in MS activity over time.

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Can MS be seen on a spinal MRI?

Conventional spinal cord MRI provides information on focal lesions, which is necessary for the diagnosis and prognosis of MS, and is commonly used in the clinical setting.

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What is the most common initial symptom of multiple sclerosis?

Numbness of the face, body, or extremities (arms and legs) is often the first symptom experienced by those eventually diagnosed as having MS.

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When should you suspect multiple sclerosis?

People should consider the diagnosis of MS if they have one or more of these symptoms: vision loss in one or both eyes. acute paralysis in the legs or along one side of the body. acute numbness and tingling in a limb.

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What are the signs of early onset MS?

Some of the most common symptoms include:
  • fatigue.
  • vision problems.
  • numbness and tingling.
  • muscle spasms, stiffness and weakness.
  • mobility problems.
  • pain.
  • problems with thinking, learning and planning.
  • depression and anxiety.

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Can back problems mimic MS?

Spinal Disorders

This irritation of nearby nerves can lead to numbness or weakness in the area of the body that correlates with the affected nerves. These symptoms can mimic those of MS.

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What are some unusual symptoms of MS?

Here are some of the less common, more surprising symptoms that you might not be aware of.
  • Vertigo. Many people with MS experience dizziness, in which you feel light-headed or off-balance, notes the NMSS. ...
  • Speech Disorders. ...
  • Difficulty Swallowing. ...
  • Itching. ...
  • Hearing Problems. ...
  • Tremors. ...
  • Headache and Migraine. ...
  • Breathing Problems.

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Does MS show up in blood work?

While there is no definitive blood test for MS, blood tests can rule out other conditions that cause symptoms similar to those of MS, including lupus erythematosis, Sjogren's, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, some infections, and rare hereditary diseases.

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What part of the spine shows MS?

Spinal MS occurs more commonly with lesions in the cervical spine (the neck area) in approximately 67 percent of cases. Lesions in this area often affect the corticospinal tract. Neurological signs which indicate lesions in the corticospinal tract include the Babinski Sign and the Hoffmann Sign.

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Can MS affect your teeth?

MS patients are all at higher risk for dental issues because of the complications of MS. The disease itself affects the teeth and gums on a biochemical level. The medicine that is used to treat MS can also lead to problems.

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How do you confirm MS diagnosis?

Brain MRI is often used to help diagnose multiple sclerosis.
...
MRI multiple sclerosis lesions
  1. Blood tests, to help rule out other diseases with symptoms like MS . ...
  2. Spinal tap (lumbar puncture), in which a small sample of cerebrospinal fluid is removed from your spinal canal for laboratory analysis.

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Where are most MS lesions found?

Lesions may be observed anywhere in the CNS white matter, including the supratentorium, infratentorium, and spinal cord; however, more typical locations for MS lesions include the periventricular white matter, brainstem, cerebellum, and spinal cord.

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How long can MS go undiagnosed?

How long can MS go undiagnosed? MS is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 50, but it can go undetected for years. In fact, a 2021 study suggested that many people with MS experience disease symptoms several years before being officially diagnosed with the disease.

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What diseases are similar to MS?

Conditions That Can Seem Like MS
  • Epstein-Barr Virus.
  • Vitamin B12 Deficiency.
  • Diabetes.
  • Nerve Damage.
  • Eye Problems.
  • Stroke.
  • Lupus and Other Autoimmune Diseases.
  • Parkinson's Disease.

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Can MS feel like sciatica?

It's easy to mistake sciatica as a symptom or related condition of MS, which often causes neuropathic pain. But while the two do coexist, sciatica isn't caused by MS. It's caused by strain on the sciatic nerve.

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Do anti inflammatories help MS?

"Anti-inflammatory therapy shows promise in slowing progression of multiple sclerosis: Study shows using intranasal delivery method may reduce inflammation in the brain." ScienceDaily.

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Does MS cause weight gain?

It's also common for people with MS to gain weight due to their symptoms. It's important to try and reach a moderate weight and maintain it. Being overweight or underweight can worsen MS symptoms.

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