Pain and MS: Musculoskeletal Pain

Vicki Living With It Writer with Progressive MS and severe Osteoporosis I was diagnosed in 1989 after seven years of living with seemingly... Send Message Subscribe: Vicki

Tuesday, July 21, 2009
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There is pain in multiple sclerosis, with several categories that can be acute or chronic. My last article discussed neuropathic pain. Today, I am going to talk about details specific to musculoskeletal pain. Our musculoskeletal system -- bones, muscles, connective tissues -- provides our ...

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Pressure Sore
David Madison
Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 12:43 PM

I was feeling a pressure sore in my right heel as I read this article. I manage it by moving my right leg, my weak one, to a different position that does not have my weight on it. The pain is minor, but I respect it rather than ignore it. It could become worse if I let it go.

re: Pressure Sore
Vicki
Thursday, July 30, 2009 at 11:00 PM

Hi David,

I'm so sorry to hear about your pressure sore. The way I understand it, those are difficult to heal and take a long time to get better, and staying off the area is a major part of the recovery. When it's on your foot, it has to be pretty hard to stay off it. While I am sitting in my scooter, my foot still feels a lot of pressure.

Even a minor pressure sore demands respect. Funny how just a small sore affects our entire life. Please let me know when your heel is better.

pain
sez
Wednesday, September 09, 2009 at 05:29 PM

I get severe migraines, which can last for up to 11 days at the longest, but usually around 7. I have also noticed that while I have these migraines I have a strong localised burning pain in my left shoulder blade and in the middle of my head between maybe my ear and eye? But buried deep within.

I also notice that numbness is more apparent during these episodes, as well as a wierd limp that appears when I have them, that goes when I am headache free. It is also taking me four times as long to type this as I make so many typos when I am with headache,, and also have trouble speaking clearly as far as finding the right words.

I am wondering more and more if these are not migraines but a symptom of MS. I have had bouts with numbness, and blurry vision in the past which led to the MS diagnosis around 10 years ago. I feel lucky that I don't have more of the usual symptoms, especially fatigue which sounds so debilitating, but realise that these severe headaches maybe more part of the disease than I had previously thought.

What do you think? And what can I do to get rid of the pain, migraine meds don't always work and I laugh when I see Tylenol Migraine relief...boy do I ever wish!! lol

Thanks

Sez

re: pain
Vicki
Thursday, September 10, 2009 at 08:48 AM

Hi Sez,

I'm sorry to hear about your migraines. Lucky me, I have not experienced migraines so I don't know. However, I found some information that may help.

Mandy Crest wrote a nice piece on The Multiple Sclerosis/Migraine Connection right here on Health Central. She was lucky in that her migraines were not as painful once the MS took hold.

NMSS says there is evidence “there may be a common predisposing factor to both MS and migraine.”

Julie Stachowiak, Ph.D., one of my favorite sources, tells us people with MS are more likely to have migraines than the general population.She suggests a nap after the migrains to reduce residual effects. In addition, she links to her post about treatment for MS headaches. Be sure to scroll down to see several suggestions for migraines. I don't know if they are th same as you have been taking, but maybe there is something new.

It looks as if there is a relationship between headaches, including migraines, and MS. Is it a true symptom? It sounds close enough for me.

Good luck with your pain.