Spinal lesions and back pain
Hi !
So I’m trying really hard not to blame all aches and pains on MS - but I can’t help but assume!
So I’ve not had a lumbar puncture yet, I also suffer with Ms hugs quite regularly. But lately my back has been hurting so much it makes me breathless with anything I do and I feel like I can’t stand up straight. It’s not lower back pain, it feel more in my shoulders and middle of my back.
I’ve tried stretches, they help for maybe 5 minutes but then the pain is back again.
I’m wondering if having spinal lesions can cause this to happen as no matter what pain relief I take it makes no impact on the pain at all.
Standing / sitting / laying down everything is uncomfortable.
Any advice appreciated thank you! Still waiting for my latest MRI results it’s been over a month now... getting extremely anxious!
X
Hey! I’m sorry you’re in pain. I’m in pain everyday and all types at once. Back pain, nerve pain, and spasticity. I can’t even get out of bed or function most of the time without taking a pain killer first. I’ve been in PT for a few months and it helps, but only for an hour or two usually. My MS nurse said it’s very uncommon with MS to have that bad of back pain, but they looked at all of my tests and there’s nothing else they can say is causing it either, but I am being tested for NMO which is like MS just usually more severe and can cause pain along with it. I was getting the pain in the same spot, upper shoulders and neck, but also lower back. My MRI did show a lesion near my neck that was three times the size of a typical MS lesion. I’ve tried many things for pain and the only thing that helps with my back pain so far is oxycodone. I hope you feel better soon! Best of luck!
@laurasavage567 , you're already diagnosed and under treatment, so there should be no reason to call for a lumber puncture. As for the MS Hug, aka Banding, this is the most badly named symptom. Hugs are to be enjoyed and may leave us breathless, but not like this! It's caused by spasms in the intercostal muscles, which are several groups of muscles that run between the ribs, and help form and move the chest wall. The intercostal muscles are mainly involved in the mechanical aspect of breathing. These muscles help expand and shrink the size of the chest cavity to facilitate breathing. There are some details of this symptom here, which might be useful :- https://www.mstrust.org.uk/a-z/ms-hug I'm not surprised that you're getting anxious about your latest MRI. Phone up your Neurologist's secretary and politely chase the results.