[Painful syndromes connected with disseminated sclerosis]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is frequently regarded as a painless condition. A review of the literature reveals that approximately 2/3 of the patients with multiple sclerosis will experience painful syndromes during the course of disease and that these are associated with the disease. Acute syndromes are described: Trigeminal neuralgia, Lhermitte's sign, optic neuritis and tonic seizure. Chronic syndromes: Dysaesthesia, pain in extremities, muscular spasms, low back pain and headache. The frequency, causes and suggestions for treatment are mentioned. A Danish investigation has revealed that only 42% of a representative section of DS patients received adequate treatment for pain. It is thus concluded that optimal treatment of pain in MS patients is necessary.