title: Symptomatology and pathogenesis of different types of pain in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive disease of the central nervous system. It is characterized by disseminated foci of demyelination, which are responsible for the diverse clinical picture of MS. Pain is a frequent but underestimated symptom of multiple sclerosis. It is estimated to affect 29-86% of MS patients in various stages of the disease and severely influences rehabilitation and quality of life. The pain experienced by MS patients is generally caused by nervous system damage during the course of the disease process and can usually be characterized as central neuropathic pain (less frequently as peripheral or nociceptive pain). The most frequent symptoms include dysesthetic extremity pain, painful tonic spasms, Lhermitte's sign, trigeminal neuralgia, headaches and low back pain. This paper discusses the probable mechanisms behind the development of pain in MS, the prevalence, classification, types of pain, as well as the most effective treatment methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology with Stroke Unit, Specialist Hospital, Końskie, Poland. Electronic address: wbrola@wp.pl.
authors.forename: Waldemar
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Brola
authors.affiliation: Department of Child Neurology, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Krystyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mitosek-Szewczyk
authors.affiliation: Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland.
authors.forename: Józef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Opara
mesh_terms: D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications*; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence
keywords: Chronic pain; Health-related quality of life; Multiple sclerosis; Neuropathic pain