This Is MS Multiple Sclerosis Community: Knowledge & Support

Hi, I am a newbie and have a question about pain. I have had MS for approx 11 years and have had pain in my legs since shortly after diagnosis. I am now experiencing new pain that started about a week ago in the fatty part of the palms of my hands and now is just about everywhere on my body. It is pain that is different than the pain I have been having in my legs. It is painful to the touch, i.e. the pain in the palms is significantly worse when I try to pull myself up. When touched on my shoulders it hurts, when touched just about anywhere it hurts. Anyone else experience this kind of pain? My lesions have up until now always been on the brain but I am wondering if this is a sign of lesions on my spine??? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any help. Chris

Hi Chris

I have had MS for about 8 years, and since a rather nasty relapse last year, I have had a similar type of pain, particularly in my right arm and hand. It has been diagnosed as neuropathic pain due to two lesions in my c-spine, and absurdly, I also have awful numbness in the same arm/hand, together with weakness and lack of fine motor co-ordination. It is very painful, sometimes worse than others, and really unpleasant to be touched. I also have quite debilitating L'Hermittes which goes with my spinal lesions - if I try to bend my neck at all I get severe electric shocks down my back and arms/hands, if I do it suddenly/sharply, my right arm becomes temporarily paralysed - just for a minute or two. I also have pain and numbness/weakness in my right leg.
My neuro has given me neurontin and amitriptyline, which really do help much better than pain killers, the only problem is they make you drowsy.

I really hope that you don't have any c-spine lesions, but would suggest you see your doc, as there is medication which may help the pain. Getting it diagnosed and then having the right medication would probably be the way to go. We all experience different symptoms, but I hope this is of some help to you.

Regards

_________________
Al

Thanks Ally. I am going for xrays tomorrow of my back and hand and if they are okay then an MRI. Doc wants to rule out any bony problems first. Hope you are well and thanks again!

You might ask about Lyrica and Amytriptiline. It has worked wonders for me.
Terry

Had the xrays and just waiting for my doc to get back from a conference to find out the results but . . . when I did find out that my B12 and folic acid were extremely low and then saw the posts about Lhermitte and diagnosed myself. I believe all my new pain symptoms (more than I mentioned here previously) and the low B12 and folic acid make the Lhermitte diagnosis a good one. Started on the B Complex and I will discuss it with him when he gets back. He is just my PCP as I have not found a neurologist I like since my diagnosing neurologist left town. Maybe it is time to seriously search for a new one since it seems the MS is starting to do new things. I have to say Forums are the best source of info. No one knows better than other MS patients! Thank you so much.