It is one of the more common symptoms of MS. Spasticity may be as mild as the feeling of tightness of muscles or may be so severe as to produce painful, uncontrollable spasms of extremities, usually of the legs. Spasticity may also produce feelings of pain or tightness in and around joints, and can cause low back pain.
Many people with multiple sclerosis have stiff muscles and spasms, a condition called spasticity. It happens mostly in the muscles of the legs and arms, and it may keep you from moving your limbs freely.
Muscle spasms can affect any muscle in the body, but the most common spasms in MS are in the arms, legs, or the trunk and back.
What are spasticity and spasms? Spasticity is a symptom that causes your muscles to feel stiff, heavy and difficult to move. A spasm is a sudden, involuntary tightening or contraction of a muscle.
Muscle twitches (or fasciculations) are a common symptom in other neurodegenerative diseases, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). It seems that many people living with MS also experience the same twitches from time to time in various parts of the body.
It is one of the more common symptoms of MS. Spasticity may be as mild as the feeling of tightness of muscles or may be so severe as to produce painful, uncontrollable spasms of extremities, usually of the legs. Spasticity may also produce feelings of pain or tightness in and around joints, and can cause low back pain.
If muscles twitch or jerk repeatedly, this is known as 'clonus', for example when a foot taps repetitively on the floor. Some people with MS experience other spasms - sudden involuntary movements that can make the arms or legs move in different ways. These can occur even without the muscle being stretched.
Tizanidine (Zanaflex)
A muscle relaxant can reduce stiffness and spasms and may be particularly useful to treat painful night-time spasms. Because its effects last for only 3-6 hours, it can be best used around specific times when relief from symptoms is most important, for example at bedtime.
Dantrolene is a muscle relaxant for relief of cramping, spasms, and tightness of muscles (spasticity) caused by multiple sclerosis and other conditions. It acts directly on the muscles.
Spasticity is a common symptom in MS. It is a tightness or stiffness of the muscles – occurring typically in the legs (calf or thigh), groin, and buttocks. Although less common, some individuals may experience spasticity in their back. These are all muscles that help people to stand and balance in an upright position.
Spasticity is a symptom of multiple sclerosis that causes your muscles to feel stiff, heavy and difficult to move. A spasm is a sudden stiffening of a muscle which may cause a limb to kick out or jerk towards your body.
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.
Those symptoms include loss of vision in an eye, loss of power in an arm or leg or a rising sense of numbness in the legs. Other common symptoms associated with MS include spasms, fatigue, depression, incontinence issues, sexual dysfunction, and walking difficulties.
Muscle stiffness and spasms are common MS symptoms, and are often described as 'MS spasticity'. Muscle spasms or stiffness can affect between 40% and 80% of people with MS at some time. For most people, these are occasional symptoms.
This type of pain can occur all over the body. 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.
Interferon Beta (Avonex, Betaseron, Extavia, Plegridy, Rebif) How it works: These are lab-made versions of your body's infection-fighting protein. They've been around the longest and are the most widely prescribed drugs for MS.
Ocrelizumab (Ocrevus).
This humanized monoclonal antibody medication is the only DMT approved by the FDA to treat both the relapse-remitting and primary-progressive forms of MS .
Drugs for musculoskeletal pain
Analgesic painkillers Drugs like paracetamol, aspirin, ibuprofen, and codeine can help control non-neuropathic pain (they are not usually effective for neuropathic pain).
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.
Overexercising, dehydration, and stress are the most common causes. The spasms happen when the muscle suddenly moves involuntarily. Muscle spasms may feel like a slight twitch or a painful cramp, and they can occur in the muscles in any part of the body.
Relapsing MS and the McDonald criteria
A person who has experienced at least two clinical attacks, and has clear-cut evidence of damage in at least two distinct brain areas, can be definitively diagnosed with MS, as that individual fulfills requirements for both dissemination in space and time.
MS affects everyone differently, but you'll probably find that it limits movement in at least one part of your body. You may find you have pain in a certain area, balance problems, trouble walking, dizziness, fatigue, or bladder issues. For all these problems, physical therapy can help by building up your strength.
These spasms usually last 60 to 90 seconds.
What causes tremor? MS tremors are usually caused by damage to myelin in an area of the brain known as the 'cerebellum', and the nerves leading to and from it. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that controls your balance and coordination. It 'smoothes out' the movement of your limbs, eyes and speech.