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Acute radicular pain as a presenting symptom in multiple sclerosis
M Ramirez-Lassepas1, J W Tulloch, M R Quinones
1Department of Neurology, University of Minnesota, St Paul.
Archives of Neurology
|March 1, 1992
Summary
Acute radicular pain, initially unexplained by imaging, was diagnosed as multiple sclerosis (MS) in 11 patients. This study highlights MS as a potential cause of radiculopathy, even without typical compression findings.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Acute radicular pain can present with unclear etiology.
- Imaging techniques often rule out mechanical compression as a cause.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate multiple sclerosis (MS) as a cause of acute radiculopathy.
- To analyze the characteristics and outcomes of patients with MS-related radiculopathy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 11 patients diagnosed with MS presenting with acute radicular pain.
- Exclusion of radicular compression via imaging techniques.
- Follow-up ranging from 6 months to 15 years.
Main Results:
- Multiple sclerosis was diagnosed in 11 patients (3.9% of new MS cases) with unexplained acute radicular pain.
- Radiculopathies were lumbosacral (6), cervical (3), and thoracic (2).
- Trauma preceded symptoms in 6 patients; 7 had recurrent pain, 4 had other pain syndromes, and 3 had paroxysmal symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Multiple sclerosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of acute radiculopathy when compression is ruled out.
- MS can manifest with diverse radicular pain syndromes, sometimes triggered by trauma.