Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDysesthesia and the Nervous SystemTips to Manage Your Cold FeetOther Reasons for Cold Feet
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Dysesthesia and the Nervous System
Tips to Manage Your Cold Feet
Other Reasons for Cold Feet
Cold feet symptoms that occur withmultiple sclerosis(MS), even when your feet feel warm to the touch, are known as adysesthesia. Dysesthesias are abnormal sensations that are unpleasant, potentially painful, and occur anywhere on the body, although they’re most commonly experienced in the legs and feet.
While other conditions can lead tocold feet, there are specific reasons for why cold feet may be linked to MS and specific strategies for dealing with the discomfort.
This article explains how the effects of MS on the nervous system lead to dysesthesia symptoms. It presents some treatments and therapies that can help with the MS-related sensation of cold feet.
Verywell / Cindy Chung
With MS, themyelinsheath—the protective coating around the nerve fibers in your brain and spinal cord (your central nervous system)—is damaged.
This damage leads to faulty nerve communications that can cause erroneouspain messagesto be sent to your brain. In other words, your feet are actually warm, but you think they’re cold because your nervous system is telling you they are.
With sensitization of the nervous system, two phenomena may develop:
It’s important to note that cold feet and other sensory symptoms are not necessarily signs that your MS is getting worse, especially if the symptoms come and go.
Up to half of all people with MS experience pain at some point. Many develop chronic pain, or experience the facial pain oftrigeminal neuralgiaor the eye pain ofoptic neuritis.
Dysesthesia and Cold FeetWhen it comes to cold feet, MS experts call this pain a dysesthesia. It occurs on its own or worsens with weather changes. It tends to be worse at night and intensified with exercise.Let your healthcare provider know if you experience cold feet for the first time.
Dysesthesia and Cold Feet
When it comes to cold feet, MS experts call this pain a dysesthesia. It occurs on its own or worsens with weather changes. It tends to be worse at night and intensified with exercise.Let your healthcare provider know if you experience cold feet for the first time.
Understanding Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Relapses
Cold feet with MS can be managed in different ways. Warming your feet with blankets may seem obvious, but there are other techniques—both medical and behavioral—that can help you to manage your discomfort.
2:163 Women Share Their Experiences Managing MS in the Cold
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3 Women Share Their Experiences Managing MS in the Cold
Distraction
Distraction is a great psychological intervention for managing pain, as it forces your brain to shift focus from your pain onto the activity at hand, especially if that activity is cognitively demanding.
If your feet are bothering you, consider trying one of these distraction techniques. Remember, though, depending on the intensity or nature of your discomfort, you may have to try a few different techniques before finding the one that works for you:
Complementary Therapies
Complementary therapies can be especially useful in managing your pain, as well as other symptoms of your MS like fatigue orcognitive problems.
These therapies may include:
Medications
If your cold feet are significantly affecting your quality of life or impairing your functioning (for example, if you’re falling or not going to work or seeing your friends and family), be sure to speak to your healthcare provider.
Some medications may help, though there are side effects in some cases. Among them are:
Topical capsaicin cream is another potential option for your feet.
4:133 MS Patients Share Their Experiences Facing Mobility Challenges
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3 MS Patients Share Their Experiences Facing Mobility Challenges
Other Therapies
If your cold feet are impairing your walking and balance, you may need physical or occupational therapy.
Regular visits to a podiatrist to ensure your feet appear healthy without ulcers, as well as special shoes called orthotics, may also be warranted.
Seeing a therapist or psychiatrist may also be helpful as pain in multiple sclerosis can trigger or worsendepressionor anxiety.
Remember to discuss any medications or therapies with your healthcare provider first.
Examples of other health conditions that may cause cold or painful feet include:
While these can be the cause of cold feet, they can also compound cold feet that are due to other issues like MS.
Summary
While cold feet may cause pain or discomfort, there are steps you can take to remedy the symptoms. If focusing on a distraction doesn’t work, physical therapy or medications may help.
Be sure to tell your healthcare provider about any cold feet episodes that are new. They’ll need to evaluate the symptoms and rule out other possible causes before you decide on treatment options.
A Word From Verywell
Whatever form it takes, pain in MS can be debilitating, both physically and mentally. Our Healthcare Provider Discussion Guide can help you to start a conversation about your symptoms with a health professional.
Multiple Sclerosis Healthcare Provider Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
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5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Freiha J, Riachi N, Chalah MA, Zoghaib R, Ayache SS, Ahdab R.Paroxysmal Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis-A Review of the Literature.J Clin Med. 2020 Sep 25;9(10):3100. doi:10.3390/jcm9103100.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Pain and itching.2016.Sajeev MF, Kelada L, Yahya Nur AB, Wakefield CE, Wewege MA, Karpelowsky J,et al.Interactive video games to reduce paediatric procedural pain and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Anaesth.2021 Oct;127(4):608-619. doi:10.1016/j.bja.2021.06.039.Azmi S, Elhadd KT, Nelson A, et al.Pregabalin in the management of painful diabetic neuropathy: a narrative review.Diabetes Ther. 2019;10(1):35-56. doi:10.1007/s13300-018-0550-xBae KH, Go HY, Park KH, Ahn I, Yoon Y, Lee S.The association between cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet and chronic disease: results of a multicentre study.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):40. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2082-3
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Freiha J, Riachi N, Chalah MA, Zoghaib R, Ayache SS, Ahdab R.Paroxysmal Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis-A Review of the Literature.J Clin Med. 2020 Sep 25;9(10):3100. doi:10.3390/jcm9103100.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Pain and itching.2016.Sajeev MF, Kelada L, Yahya Nur AB, Wakefield CE, Wewege MA, Karpelowsky J,et al.Interactive video games to reduce paediatric procedural pain and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Anaesth.2021 Oct;127(4):608-619. doi:10.1016/j.bja.2021.06.039.Azmi S, Elhadd KT, Nelson A, et al.Pregabalin in the management of painful diabetic neuropathy: a narrative review.Diabetes Ther. 2019;10(1):35-56. doi:10.1007/s13300-018-0550-xBae KH, Go HY, Park KH, Ahn I, Yoon Y, Lee S.The association between cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet and chronic disease: results of a multicentre study.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):40. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2082-3
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Freiha J, Riachi N, Chalah MA, Zoghaib R, Ayache SS, Ahdab R.Paroxysmal Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis-A Review of the Literature.J Clin Med. 2020 Sep 25;9(10):3100. doi:10.3390/jcm9103100.National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Pain and itching.2016.Sajeev MF, Kelada L, Yahya Nur AB, Wakefield CE, Wewege MA, Karpelowsky J,et al.Interactive video games to reduce paediatric procedural pain and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Anaesth.2021 Oct;127(4):608-619. doi:10.1016/j.bja.2021.06.039.Azmi S, Elhadd KT, Nelson A, et al.Pregabalin in the management of painful diabetic neuropathy: a narrative review.Diabetes Ther. 2019;10(1):35-56. doi:10.1007/s13300-018-0550-xBae KH, Go HY, Park KH, Ahn I, Yoon Y, Lee S.The association between cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet and chronic disease: results of a multicentre study.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):40. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2082-3
Freiha J, Riachi N, Chalah MA, Zoghaib R, Ayache SS, Ahdab R.Paroxysmal Symptoms in Multiple Sclerosis-A Review of the Literature.J Clin Med. 2020 Sep 25;9(10):3100. doi:10.3390/jcm9103100.
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Pain and itching.2016.
Sajeev MF, Kelada L, Yahya Nur AB, Wakefield CE, Wewege MA, Karpelowsky J,et al.Interactive video games to reduce paediatric procedural pain and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Br J Anaesth.2021 Oct;127(4):608-619. doi:10.1016/j.bja.2021.06.039.
Azmi S, Elhadd KT, Nelson A, et al.Pregabalin in the management of painful diabetic neuropathy: a narrative review.Diabetes Ther. 2019;10(1):35-56. doi:10.1007/s13300-018-0550-x
Bae KH, Go HY, Park KH, Ahn I, Yoon Y, Lee S.The association between cold hypersensitivity in the hands and feet and chronic disease: results of a multicentre study.BMC Complement Altern Med. 2018;18(1):40. doi:10.1186/s12906-018-2082-3
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