As many as 60% of those diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, also known as MS, will experience some level of pain at some point and no two people will experience the same type of pain. Some experience acute pain and others have chronic pain. Their pain can be headaches or they may have neuropathic that is unrelated to their nervous system.
Each person with this Multiple Sclerosis has a different level of severity with their pain on a daily basis. And for those who suffer from the disease, their first job every day is to fight that pain in any manner they can.
And while there are many types of medications that can help, most people with this disease are looking for a non-medication pain management approach. The good news here is that this is possible now. But first, one must understand more about the disease and the pain that comes with it.
How Multiple Sclerosis Pain Can Affect Your Life
The pain that people with this disease will have sleep problems, they have mood swings and lose energy. They have trouble functioning physically and this affects their enjoyment of life.
The person with this disease experiences not only pain but anxiety, depression, fatigue and this all creates stress for them. They are unable to do daily activities as simple as cleaning, hobbies or going to work.
How Can A Multiple Sclerosis Patient Find Pain Management?
The first step in finding help with their pain, a patient with this disease should talk with your general healthcare provider. You need to be completely honest with how much pain you’re having and how it is affecting your daily life. Be open-minded to the options your healthcare provider suggests for pain management and ask questions.
Utilize the internet for more resources to gain as much knowledge and information as you can about your disease and the various ways pain is being managed today, with and without medication.
Typical Pain Management for Multiple Sclerosis
There are many different treatments today that are available for effectively managing pain associated with the disease. Sometimes it is using multiple ways. Here we list a few of the most common types of pain management.
Self-Managing
While you should always listen to and rely on your healthcare provider, the most important person involved in managing your Multiple Sclerosis pain is you. Only you will know the pain you experience day-to-day and thus, it is important to practice self-management of your pain. Self-management is tracking your pain and noting the different strategies you use for pain management then keeping track of your progress.
Behavioral Treatment
It has been discovered through research of diseases and illnesses that pain can be managed with behavioral treatment and skills. While it has not be exclusively proven that these same treatments are helpful, there is a strong belief that it could be beneficial.
Physical Treatment
Physical treatment for Multiple Sclerosis pain management would include maintaining a regular exercise routine, acupuncture, and massage therapy. Before trying any of these, it is recommended to consult with your healthcare provider first and then follow their recommendations accordingly.
Medication
For the pain caused from Multiple Sclerosis to be treated effectively, it is necessary for the specific cause to be determined first. If your pain is neuropathic pain, your healthcare provider may treat it with an anticonvulsant medication. The pain from this disease is often treated with OTC medications as well as prescription pain relievers.
Audrey has been a freelance writer for over 8 years. She lives with her husband of 38 years, 4 dogs and a rabbit. They have 3 grown children, 5 grandchildren. Her brother passed away from MS after being diagnosed 10 years earlier