Sensory symptoms are among the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Find out what triggers them and how to cope.
By Chris Iliades, MD – Medically Reviewed by Jason Paul Chua, MD, PhD
Some of the most distressing symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) are sensory disturbances — sensations that can range from numbness to itching to burning pain. They are also among the most common symptoms, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS).
Because these symptoms are caused by the nerve damage that is a part of multiple sclerosis, anyone with MS is at risk of developing them. But a range of strategies can help with managing these types of symptoms.
Types of Sensory Symptoms
People with MS experience three basic types of sensory symptoms, says Fred D. Lublin, MD, professor of neurology and director of the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City: loss of sensation, abnormal sensations, and painful sensations.
Loss of sensation is experienced as numbness in the affected area or body part.
Abnormal sensations may include:
- Pins and needles
- Tingling
- Crawling sensations
- Itching (without a rash)
Painful sensations include:
- Hypersensitivity to touch
- Burning sensations
- The “MS hug,” a band-like tightness or girdling feeling in the chest or abdomen that can be the result of nerve damage or spasms in the small muscles between the ribs
- Lhermitte’s sign, an acute, electric shock–like sensation running down the spine and into the limbs that occurs when the head is bent forward
Numbness, abnormal sensations, and pain can affect virtually any part of the body: the face, torso, arms, hands, legs, or feet. The symptoms may come and go, or they may come and stay.
“If they’re symptoms caused by old nerve damage, they may flare up during periods of fatigue or illness, and then go away with rest and recovery,” Dr. Lublin says.
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