Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat It Feels LikeCausesDiagnosisTreatment
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What It Feels Like
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Dysesthesia is considered aparoxysmalsymptom, meaning nerve-related symptoms that appear suddenly, last for only a few seconds or minutes, and then disappear. There are several types of dysesthesia associated with MS that are felt specifically around the torso (called an “MS hug”) and feet (called theLhermitte’s sign).
While dysesthesia can often be managed with lifestyle changes, severe cases may benefit from medications, physical therapy, or electrical stimulation therapy.
This article explains what dysesthesia feels like as well as the underlying cause of neuropathic pain in people with MS. It also looks at possible treatments, including home remedies and pharmaceutical drugs.
Verywell / JR Bee
What Does MS Neuropathy Feel Like?
Dysesthesia most often affects the feet, hands, legs, arms, and torso in people.The pain is often described as:
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
What Causes MS Neuropathy?
Multiple sclerosis is anautoimmunedemyelinating disease. This is a disorder in which the immune system inappropriately attacksmyelin, a sheath that protects nerves.
When myelin is stripped from nerves, the nerves can spontaneously “misfire,” causing the abnormal transmission of nerve signals to the brain.
With MS, dysesthesia occurs whenperipheral nervesare demyelinated. These are the nerves extending from the spinal cord that provide sensations to the rest of the body.
Dysesthesia with MS is distinct in that it causes spontaneous sensations in the absence of any stimuli.
How MS Neuropathy Is Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider will diagnose dysesthesia based on the symptoms you report. Because there are many other types of MS-related changes in sensation, the diagnosis will largely depend on ruling those out.
For example, dysesthesia should not be confused with anesthesia or hypoesthesia (which refers to a loss of sensation) orparesthesia(which refers to a distorted sensation, such as a limb “falling asleep”).
What Does MS Pain Feel Like?
How MS Neuropathy Is Treated
While there is no cure for dysesthesia, most people can learn to manage it. Here are some simple strategies that may ease your pain:
If these tactics don’t provide enough relief, certainmedications may help, especially if the pain is affecting your quality of life. Some medications that may be helpful include:
Some healthcare providers will also recommend physical therapy or a non-invasive treatment known astranscutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS). TENS involves the placement of electrodes on the skin to deliver mild electrical impulses that help modify pain signals. Some people achieve better results than others.
Engaging in certain mind-body therapies can also help alleviate your discomfort. Some that may be particularly useful for managing MS pain include:
Summary
Dysesthesia describes abnormal nerve sensations (including burning, itching, aching, or tingling) caused when MS destroys the protective coating of nerve cells, called myelin. Dysesthesia with MS tends to occur in short spells, lasting seconds or minutes and mainly affects the feet, hands, torso, legs, and arms.
Lifestyle changes and mind-body therapies may help ease pain, while severe cases may benefit from medications, physical therapy, or a treatment known as transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS).
8 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.Bhatt D, Shah A, Singh R.Brief review on multiple sclerosis.World J Pharm Res. 2017;6(11):180-194. doi:10.20959/wjpr201711-9415National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Pain & itching.Murphy KL, Bethea JR, Fischer R.Neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis—current therapeutic intervention and future treatment perspectives.In: Zagon IS, McLaughlin PJ. Multiple Sclerosis: perspectives in treatment and pathogenesis. Codon Publications. 2017;4:53-69. doi:10.15586/codon.multiplesclerosis.2017.ch4Racke MK, Frohman EM, Frohman T.Pain in multiple sclerosis: understanding pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management through clinical vignettes.Front Neurol. 2022;12:799698. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.799698Cevikbas F, Lerner EA.Physiology and pathophysiology of itch.Physiol Rev. 2020;100(3):945-982. doi:10.1152/physrev.00017.2019Multiple Sclerosis News Today.Dysesthesia.Vance CG, Dailey DL, Rakel BA, Sluka KA.Using TENS for pain control: the state of the evidence.Pain Manag.2014;4(3):197-209. doi:10.2217/PMT.14.13Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.Pain.
8 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.Bhatt D, Shah A, Singh R.Brief review on multiple sclerosis.World J Pharm Res. 2017;6(11):180-194. doi:10.20959/wjpr201711-9415National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Pain & itching.Murphy KL, Bethea JR, Fischer R.Neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis—current therapeutic intervention and future treatment perspectives.In: Zagon IS, McLaughlin PJ. Multiple Sclerosis: perspectives in treatment and pathogenesis. Codon Publications. 2017;4:53-69. doi:10.15586/codon.multiplesclerosis.2017.ch4Racke MK, Frohman EM, Frohman T.Pain in multiple sclerosis: understanding pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management through clinical vignettes.Front Neurol. 2022;12:799698. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.799698Cevikbas F, Lerner EA.Physiology and pathophysiology of itch.Physiol Rev. 2020;100(3):945-982. doi:10.1152/physrev.00017.2019Multiple Sclerosis News Today.Dysesthesia.Vance CG, Dailey DL, Rakel BA, Sluka KA.Using TENS for pain control: the state of the evidence.Pain Manag.2014;4(3):197-209. doi:10.2217/PMT.14.13Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.Pain.
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.
Bhatt D, Shah A, Singh R.Brief review on multiple sclerosis.World J Pharm Res. 2017;6(11):180-194. doi:10.20959/wjpr201711-9415National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Pain & itching.Murphy KL, Bethea JR, Fischer R.Neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis—current therapeutic intervention and future treatment perspectives.In: Zagon IS, McLaughlin PJ. Multiple Sclerosis: perspectives in treatment and pathogenesis. Codon Publications. 2017;4:53-69. doi:10.15586/codon.multiplesclerosis.2017.ch4Racke MK, Frohman EM, Frohman T.Pain in multiple sclerosis: understanding pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management through clinical vignettes.Front Neurol. 2022;12:799698. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.799698Cevikbas F, Lerner EA.Physiology and pathophysiology of itch.Physiol Rev. 2020;100(3):945-982. doi:10.1152/physrev.00017.2019Multiple Sclerosis News Today.Dysesthesia.Vance CG, Dailey DL, Rakel BA, Sluka KA.Using TENS for pain control: the state of the evidence.Pain Manag.2014;4(3):197-209. doi:10.2217/PMT.14.13Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.Pain.
Bhatt D, Shah A, Singh R.Brief review on multiple sclerosis.World J Pharm Res. 2017;6(11):180-194. doi:10.20959/wjpr201711-9415
National Multiple Sclerosis Society.Pain & itching.
Murphy KL, Bethea JR, Fischer R.Neuropathic pain in multiple sclerosis—current therapeutic intervention and future treatment perspectives.In: Zagon IS, McLaughlin PJ. Multiple Sclerosis: perspectives in treatment and pathogenesis. Codon Publications. 2017;4:53-69. doi:10.15586/codon.multiplesclerosis.2017.ch4
Racke MK, Frohman EM, Frohman T.Pain in multiple sclerosis: understanding pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management through clinical vignettes.Front Neurol. 2022;12:799698. doi:10.3389/fneur.2021.799698
Cevikbas F, Lerner EA.Physiology and pathophysiology of itch.Physiol Rev. 2020;100(3):945-982. doi:10.1152/physrev.00017.2019
Multiple Sclerosis News Today.Dysesthesia.
Vance CG, Dailey DL, Rakel BA, Sluka KA.Using TENS for pain control: the state of the evidence.Pain Manag.2014;4(3):197-209. doi:10.2217/PMT.14.13
Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.Pain.
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