nerve pain - Multiple Sclerosis Message Board

sallie61 · 11-13-2007, 12:23 PM

Hi, I was just wondering what nerve pain is, sorry I know it sounds pretty dumb.

Thanks

MSJayhawk · 11-13-2007, 01:27 PM

Nerve pain is, for me, sharp pain that does not cease with pain killers. My worst nerve pain occurred in my femoral nerve. I had to treat it with heat/cold. The nerve damage sends electrical signals to the surrounding tissue causing the pain. The pain subsides when the nerve sheath is healed.

MSNik · 11-13-2007, 07:12 PM

Jayhawk described exactly what I feel in my left hand and fingers. Its a constant burning, tingling pain which has never gotten better and it is not affected or helped by any drugs to date. Ive tried them all, and nothing works..
Taking supplements like Tumeric and lots of Omegas seems to take the edge off, running cold water, or holding an ice pack helps slightly but only for a few minutes...heat, makes it worse.

orchidflower24 · 11-13-2007, 11:24 PM

Hi...I have nerve pain all over...mostly in my legs, lower and upper back.
I was diagnosed with MS 20 years ago, and the way it has affected me is to
cause pain. But, I still don't understand what is causing the pain. It is becoming debilitating, now. I have tried neurontin and lyrica, with no help.

Can anyone help me and describe how the MS is causing nerve pain, please?

MSNik · 11-14-2007, 04:27 AM

Hi there. MS is a disease where the body is attacking the Myelin Sheaths of the nerves. These are the protective nerve converings, which help the signal from the nerve to the brain.
When the disease attacks the Myelin, either permenent or temporary damage is caused. When it is permenent, what we are all describing is the pain which results. I have it, it appears you might, too.
By taking steroids in the early stages of a relapse, it shrinks the swelling of the nerves, sometimes allowing the Myelin to stop being attacked completely, thus reversing damage....when we ignore the relapse, or if we were having this problem before we were dx with MS, and werent doing anything to prevent relapses or treat relapses, many of the times, the nerve damage is permenent. This usually does result in nerve pain.