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Review
. 2022 Jan 13:12:799698.
doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.799698. eCollection 2021.

Pain in Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management Through Clinical Vignettes

Michael K Racke  1 , Elliot M Frohman  2 , Teresa Frohman  2
Affiliations
Review

Pain in Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management Through Clinical Vignettes

Michael K Racke et al. Front Neurol. .

Abstract

Neuropathic pain and other pain syndromes occur in the vast majority of patients with multiple sclerosis at some time during their disease course. Pain can become chronic and paroxysmal. In this review, we will utilize clinical vignettes to describe various pain syndromes associated with multiple sclerosis and their pathophysiology. These syndromes vary from central neuropathic pain or Lhermitte's phenomenon associated with central nervous system lesions to trigeminal neuralgia and optic neuritis pain associated with nerve lesions. Muscular pain can also arise due to spasticity. In addition, we will discuss strategies utilized to help patients manage these symptoms.

Keywords: diagnosis; multiple sclerosis; pain; pathophysiology; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

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