Preview

Neurology, Neuropsychiatry, Psychosomatics

Advanced search

Personalized therapy of chronic pain syndromes in patients with multiple sclerosis

https://doi.org/10.14412/2074-2711-2026-4-4-11

Abstract

In patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), chronic pain syndromes (CPS), which vary in terms of their etiology, clinical symptoms and localization, occur with high frequency even in the early stages of the disease. As a rule, these are pathogenetically linked to the underlying disease and result from focal lesions in the central nervous system and/or the neurological disorders developing in patients. CPS significantly reduce quality of life, impair social adaptation and exacerbate disability in patients with MS. This article provides a brief overview of the pathogenesis, clinical manifestations and diagnostic principles of the CPS most commonly observed in patients with MS (central neuropathic pain, trigeminal neuralgia, Lhermitte's sign, painful tonic spasms, spasticity pain). Particular attention is paid to modern approaches to the treatment of CPS in patients with MS, management strategies tailored to the individual characteristics of the course of CPS and the 'response' to therapy, as well as the presence of comorbid psycho-emotional disorders and associated somatic pathology.

About the Authors

N. N. Spirin
Yaroslavl State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia
Russian Federation

Department of Nervous Diseases with Medical Genetics and Neurosurgery

5, Revolyutsionnaya St., Yaroslavl 150000



D. V. Kiselev
Yaroslavl State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia
Russian Federation

Dmitry Vladimirovich Kiselev

Department of Nervous Diseases with Medical Genetics and Neurosurgery

5, Revolyutsionnaya St., Yaroslavl 150000



E. G. Shipova
Yaroslavl State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia
Russian Federation

Department of Nervous Diseases with Medical Genetics and Neurosurgery

5, Revolyutsionnaya St., Yaroslavl 150000



N. S. Baranova
Yaroslavl State Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia
Russian Federation

Department of Nervous Diseases with Medical Genetics and Neurosurgery

5, Revolyutsionnaya St., Yaroslavl 150000



References

1. Gusev EI, Boiko AN, Stolyarov ID. Multiple Sclerosis: A Handbook. Moscow: RealTaim; 2009 (In Russ.).

2. Truini A, Barbanti P, Pozzilli C, Cruccu G. A mechanism-based classification of pain in multiple sclerosis. J Neurol. 2013 Feb;260(2):351-67. doi: 10.1007/s00415-012-6579-2

3. Spirin NN, Kiselev DV, Karpova MS. Neuropathic pain syndromes in patients with multiple sclerosis. S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry. 2021;121(7-2):22- 30 (In Russ.). doi: 10.17116/jnevro202112107222

4. Spirin NN, Kiselev DV, Baranova NS, Karpova MS. Nociceptive and mixed pains in patients with multiple sclerosis. S.S. Korsakov Journal of Neurology and Psychiatry. 2022;122(7-2):44-51 (In Russ.). doi: 10.17116/jnevro202212207244

5. Racke MK, Frohman EM, Frohman T. Pain in Multiple Sclerosis: Understanding Pathophysiology, Diagnosis, and Management Through Clinical Vignettes. Front Neurol. 2022 Jan 10;12:799698. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2021.799698

6. Kiselev DV, Spirin NN, Karpova MS. Pain syndromes in patients with multiple sclerosis: pathogenesis, differential diagnosis and therapy. Nervnye bolezni. 2023;(2):32-43 (In Russ.). doi: 10.24412/2226-0757-2023-2-32-43

7. Yakhno NN, Kukushkin ML, Churyukanov MV, et al. New definition of pain by the international association for the study of pain. Russian Journal of Pain. 2020;18(4):5-7 (In Russ.). doi: 10.17116/pain2020180415

8. Kukushkin ML. Chronic pain. Nevrologiya, neiropsikhiatriya, psikhosomatika = Neurology, Neuropsychiatry, Psychosomatics. 2010;2(3):80-6 (In Russ.). doi: 10.14412/2074-2711-2010-107

9. Danilov A, Danilov A. Pain management: a biopsychosocial approach. Moscow; 2025 (In Russ.).

10. Kukushkin ML. Mechanisms of chronic pain development. Approaches to prevention and treatment. Consilium Medicum. 2017;19(2):110-7 (In Russ.).

11. Osterberg A, Boivie J, Thuomas KA. Central pain in multiple sclerosis – prevalence and clinical characteristics. Eur J Pain. 2005 Oct;9(5):531-42. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2004.11.005

12. Davydov OS, Yakhno NN, Kukushkin ML, et al. Neuropathic pain: clinical guidelines on the diagnostics and treatment from the Russian Association for the Studying of Pain. Rossiiskii zhurnal boli. 2018;(4):5-41 (In Russ.). doi: 10.25731/RASP.2018.04.025

13. Osterberg A, Boivie J. Central pain in multiple sclerosis – sensory abnormalities. Eur J Pain. 2010 Jan;14(1):104-10. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2009.03.003

14. Feketova S, Waczulikova I, Valkovic P, et al. Central Pain in Patients with Multiple sclerosis. J Mult Scler (Foster City). 2017;4(3):208-14. doi: 10.4172/2376-0389.1000208

15. Tian Z, Zhang Q, Wang L, et al. Progress in the mechanisms of pain associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Ageing Res Rev. 2024 Dec;102:102579. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102579

16. Attal N, Cruccu G, Baron R, et al. EFNS guidelines on the pharmacological treatment of neuropathic pain: 2010 revision. Eur J Neurol. 2010 Sep;17(9):1113-e88. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2010.02999.x

17. Di Stefano G, De Stefano G, Di Lionardo A, et al. Pharmacotherapeutic Options for Managing Pain in Multiple Sclerosis. CNS Drugs. 2020 Jul;34(7):749-61. doi: 10.1007/s40263-020-00731-7

18. Kukushkin ML. Tactics of managing a patient with neuropathic pain. Spravochnik poliklinicheskogo vracha. 2009;(10):13-7 (In Russ.).

19. Di Stefano G, Maarbjerg S, Truini A. Trigeminal neuralgia secondary to multiple sclerosis: from the clinical picture to the treatment options. J Headache Pain. 2019 Feb 19;20(1):20. doi: 10.1186/s10194-019-0969-0

20. Truini A, Prosperini L, Calistri V, et al. A dual concurrent mechanism explains trigeminal neuralgia in patients with multiple sclerosis. Neurology. 2016 May 31;86(22):2094-9. doi: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000002720

21. Cruccu G, Gronseth G, Alksne J, et al. AAN-EFNS guidelines on trigeminal neuralgia management. Eur J Neurol. 2008 Oct;15(10):1013-28. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02185.x

22. Ramsaransing G, Zwanikken C, De Keyser J. Worsening of symptoms of multiple sclerosis associated with carbamazepine. BMJ. 2000 Apr 22;320(7242):1113.

23. Di Stefano G, La Cesa S, Truini A, Cruccu G. Natural history and outcome of 200 outpatients with classical trigeminal neuralgia treated with carbamazepine or oxcarbazepine in a tertiary centre for neuropathic pain. J Headache Pain. 2014 Jun 9;15(1):34. doi: 10.1186/1129-2377-15-34

24. Beckmann Y, Özakbas S, Bülbül NG, et al. Reassessment of Lhermitte's sign in multiple sclerosis. Acta Neurol Belg. 2015 Dec;115(4):605-8. doi: 10.1007/s13760-015-0466-4

25. Ekbom K. Carbamazepine: A Symptomatic Treatment of the Paresthesiae Associated with Lhermitte's Sign. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2017 Apr-Jun;20(2):166. doi: 10.4103/aian.AIAN_21_17

26. Spissu A, Cannas A, Ferrigno P, et al. Anatomic correlates of painful tonic spasms in multiple sclerosis. Mov Disord. 1999 Mar;14(2):331-5. doi: 10.1002/1531-8257(199903)14:23.0.co;2-h

27. Waubant E, Alize P, Tourbah A, Agid Y. Paroxysmal dystonia (tonic spasm) in multiple sclerosis. Neurology. 2001 Dec 26;57(12):2320- 1. doi: 10.1212/wnl.57.12.2320

28. Borodulina IV, Suponeva NA. Muscle cramps: issues of pathogenesis, differential diagnosis and treatment. RMJ. 2015;(24):1463-6 (In Russ.).

29. Tardov MV, Burchakov DI. Differential diagnosis of sleep related limb movement disturbances in adults. Effektivnaya farmakoterapiya. 2017;35:48-53 (In Russ.).

30. Hughes C, Howard IM. Spasticity management in multiple sclerosis. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2013 Nov;24(4):593-604. doi: 10.1016/j.pmr.2013.07.003

31. Sosnoff JJ, Gappmaier E, Frame A, Motl RW. Influence of spasticity on mobility and balance in persons with multiple sclerosis. J Neurol Phys Ther. 2011 Sep;35(3):129-32. doi: 10.1097/NPT.0b013e31822a8c40

32. Newham DJ, McPhail G, Mills KR, Edwards RH. Ultrastructural changes after concentric and eccentric contractions of human muscle. J Neurol Sci. 1983 Sep;61(1):109-22. doi: 10.1016/0022-510x(83)90058-8

33. Wissel J, Müller J, Dressnandt J, et al. Management of spasticity associated pain with botulinum toxin A. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2000 Jul;20(1):44-9. doi: 10.1016/s0885-3924(00)00146-9

34. Otero-Romero S, Sastre-Garriga J, Comi G, et al. Pharmacological management of spasticity in multiple sclerosis: Systematic review and consensus paper. Mult Scler. 2016 Oct;22(11):1386-96. doi: 10.1177/1352458516643600

35. Gusev YeI, Banach M., Simonow A., et al. Efficacy and Safety of Botulinum Type A Toxin in Adductor Spasticity Due to Multiple Sclerosis. J Musculoskelet Pain. 2008;16:175-88. doi: 10.1080/10582450802161952

36. Gusev EI, Boyko AN, Kostenko EV. Spasticity: clinical presentation, diagnostics, and comprehensive rehabilitation using botulinum therapy. 2nd ed. Moscow: GEOTAR-Media; 2020 (In Russ.).

37. Amatya B, Khan F, Galea M. Rehabilitation for people with multiple sclerosis: an overview of Cochrane Reviews. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2019 Jan 14;1(1):CD012732. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD012732.pub2

38. Rizzo MA, Hadjimichael OC, Preiningerova J, Vollmer TL. Prevalence and treatment of spasticity reported by multiple sclerosis patients. Mult Scler. 2004 Oct;10(5):589-95. doi: 10.1191/1352458504ms1085oa


Review

For citations:


Spirin NN, Kiselev DV, Shipova EG, Baranova NS. Personalized therapy of chronic pain syndromes in patients with multiple sclerosis. Nevrologiya, neiropsikhiatriya, psikhosomatika = Neurology, Neuropsychiatry, Psychosomatics. 2026;18(4):4-11. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.14412/2074-2711-2026-4-4-11

Views: 61

JATS XML


Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.


ISSN 2074-2711 (Print)
ISSN 2310-1342 (Online)