[Pain in the course of multiple sclerosis].

According to previous studies pain symptoms were a problem in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. This is an important issue since symptom control, especially pain, assume high priorities in MS. The aim of study was to assess the incidence and type of pain symptoms in MS. In the study 104 consecutive patients with clinically definite MS, according to Posers criteria, were evaluated by questionnaire. In all patients brain MRI strongly suggested MS. 76% of patients had relapsing-remitting (RR) course of the disease. At any stage of the disease pain syndromes occurred in 70.2% of MS patients. In 8% patients pain was the first symptom of MS. The most common acute pain syndromes were: Lhermitte sign (26%) and painful tonic spasm (19%). The incidence of migraine was 8% and 26% had tension headache. Chronic pain occurred in 60% of MS patients. Most common were dysaesthetic extremity pain (45%), low back pain (34%) and painful leg spasm (22%). There was no correlation with age, sex, and duration of disease. Pain symptoms were more frequent in MS patients with higher EDSS score and spinal cord involvement. Pain syndromes are common in MS patients. There was no correlation with age, sex, and duration of the disease. Pain occurred more frequent in MS patients with higher EDSS score and in patients with spinal cord involvement.