What does pain in MS feel like? -A multicenter cross-sectional study of pain descriptors and characteristics

Objective: To identify pain prevalence, severity, frequency, duration, quality, location, distribution, type, and treatment in a large, well-designed sample of community dwelling individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS).Methods: This was a cross-sectional study.A centre-stratified random sample including 188 persons with MS were recruited from three major MS clinics in the Greater Montreal region, Canada.Main outcomes included pain prevalence, severity, frequency, duration, quality, location, distribution, type, and treatment.Results: 42% identified pain as a symptom, and among those, 60% reported severe pain.Pain differed among participants in severity, type, location, duration, frequency, and quality.Additionally, the average of total percent of body surface that participants had shaded as painful was 20%.Leg pain was the most common anatomical site of pain followed by arm pain and back pain.Neuropathic pain was the most commonly reported type of pain.The majority of participants used pharmacological techniques for pain relief.The pain management techniques were used mainly by women, participants with more disability, severe pain, younger participants, and also those who were employed.Conclusion: Pain is a common symptom in MS.The considerable severity and distribution of pain on individuals with MS confirm the importance of accurate assessment and adequate intervention approach for pain treatment in people with MS.