According to one study of 115 people with MS, the shoulders and upper back are commonly affected areas of pain in those with MS. (The researchers also noted women were more likely to report pain in these areas.) Each person experiences pain differently, including those in diagnosed with MS.
Muscle and Mobility Problems
In order to compensate for an MS-related issue like a numb or tingling leg or foot, a person's gait may be impaired, or they may distribute their weight unnaturally, which can put a strain on the lower back.
In 62 cases (53.91%) MS interfered with daily functioning at least for a time. The prevalence of upper back and neck pain was higher in cases with a shorter disease duration (P<0.05).
The MS hug, a feeling of pressure or pain around the chest, is a common symptom of MS that can be caused by dysesthesia and by spasms in the muscles between the ribs, called the intercostal muscles.
Upper back pain between the shoulder blades has many causes, including muscle strain, herniated discs, arthritis, or, less often, a serious health problem.
When should I worry about upper back pain between shoulder blades? Call your doctor immediately if you are experiencing severe upper back pain between the shoulder blades, as it may be signs of a serious medical condition, such as lung disease, heart disease, blood vessel disease, or gallstones.
It can also occur with spinal cord inflammation, as in transverse myelitis. If you are experiencing the MS Hug, talk to your doctor. An MRI may be required to rule out other conditions, such as heart or gallbladder problems, lung disease, gastro-intestinal disorders, or inflammation of the cartilage between the ribs.
Because chest pressure and pain from an MS hug can arise suddenly, it can be mistaken for other conditions — such as gallbladder problems, heart or lung disease, or costochondritis (inflammation of the cartilage between the ribs).
Numbness and tingling with multiple sclerosis (MS) can happen anywhere in your body and are two of the most common symptoms of the disease. 1 Some describe the abnormal sensations as a pins-and-needles or itching feeling, or note that they interfere with use of the affected area.
Neuropathic pain happens from “short circuiting” of the nerves that carry signals from the brain to the body because of damage from MS. These pain sensations feel like burning, stabbing, sharp and squeezing sensations. In MS you can experience acute neuropathic pain and chronic neuropathic pain.
People with MS may notice a sudden electric shock-like sensation running down their spine after bending their neck forward. This symptom, known as Lhermitte's sign, is often the first sign of MS or an MS relapse.
One MyMSTeam member reported feeling “tuckered out” due to MS spasms in their shoulders and shoulder blades. Other team members have described having lots of neck and shoulder pain. One even likened their pain to that of a dislocated shoulder.
Dysesthesias are types of pain that are experienced as a burning or aching sensation. They are the most common types of pain seen in MS. The most frequently prescribed drugs used to treat this type of pain were originally developed as anti-seizure medications or antidepressants.
Experts usually describe pain caused by MS as musculoskeletal, paroxysmal or chronic neurogenic. Musculoskeletal pain can be due to muscular weakness, spasticity and imbalance. It is most often seen in the hips, legs and arms and particularly when muscles, tendons and ligaments remain immobile for some time.
Those symptoms include loss of vision in an eye, loss of power in an arm or leg or a rising sense of numbness in the legs. Other common symptoms associated with MS include spasms, fatigue, depression, incontinence issues, sexual dysfunction, and walking difficulties.
Neurological examination
Your neurologist will look for abnormalities, changes or weakness in your vision, eye movements, hand or leg strength, balance and co-ordination, speech and reflexes. These may show whether your nerves are damaged in a way that might suggest MS.
Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare chronic disease that happens when your immune system attacks specific parts of your central nervous system. Experts previously thought this was a rare type of multiple sclerosis (MS) but now recognize it's a separate condition.
Some of the most common early signs are: fatigue (a kind of exhaustion which is out of all proportion to the task undertaken) stumbling more than before. unusual feelings in the skin (such as pins and needles or numbness)
This fungal infection may cause the nails to become thick, separate from the nail bed, and appear discolored. According to one study, onychomycosis is slightly more common in people diagnosed with MS than it is in the general population.
'Red Flags' : Spinal Pain
The pain is in the upper part of the spine (thoracic spine). You have developed problems in the nervous system, for example numbness, loss of power, disturbed walking (gait) or bowel/ bladder disturbance. You have had cancer in the past or at present. The pain is constant and getting worse.
Shoulder blade pain could be caused by various factors, including poor posture, muscle strain, joint dysfunction, nerve compression, or underlying medical conditions such as fibromyalgia, arthritis or gallbladder disease. In some instances, shoulder blade pain could be due to heart or vascular related conditions.
This pain is usually the result of stiffness from long periods of rest or decreased blood flow from sleeping. After moving around, symptoms usually subside. While morning back pain can be periodic, some people experience it more often than others.