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Updated: Mar 10, 2026
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Utility of Dissociated Intrinsic Hand Muscle Atrophy in the Diagnosis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Published on: March 4, 2014
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Pain in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Adriano Chiò1, Gabriele Mora2, Giuseppe Lauria3
1ALS Centre, "Rita Levi Montalcini" Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Italy.
The Lancet. Neurology
|December 15, 2016
Summary
Pain is a common yet overlooked symptom in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), impacting quality of life and predicting disease progression. Understanding ALS pain mechanisms is key to developing targeted therapies and improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pain Medicine
- Patient Outcomes
Background:
- Pain is frequently reported by patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), affecting all disease stages.
- Pain is associated with reduced quality of life and increased depression in ALS patients.
- Severe pain in later ALS stages can necessitate increased medication and predict clinical decline.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the significance of pain as a symptom in ALS.
- To review the multifactorial nature of pain in ALS.
- To emphasize the need for further research into ALS pain pathophysiology.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on pain in ALS.
- Analysis of pain's correlation with quality of life and depression.
- Categorization of pain types and underlying mechanisms in ALS.
Main Results:
- Pain is a prevalent and often neglected symptom in ALS, occurring at all disease stages.
- Pain negatively impacts quality of life and is linked to depression.
- Pain characteristics vary based on type and mechanism (e.g., cramps, nociceptive, neuropathic).
Conclusions:
- Effective management of ALS pain requires addressing its multifactorial nature.
- A deeper understanding of pain pathophysiology is essential for developing targeted treatments.
- Individualized therapies and mechanism-specific clinical trials are crucial for advancing ALS pain management.
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