Pain = reduced relapse rate

[SuzE-Q]

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Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2015 Jul;73(7):593-600. doi: 10.1590/0004-282X20150073.
Increased multiple sclerosis relapses related to lower prevalence of pain.
Silva JV1, Oliveira BF2, Nascimento OJ1, Farinhas JG1, Cavaliere MG3, Cal Hde S1, Matta AP1.
Author information
Abstract

Objective
The study aims to investigate the presence of pain amongst multiple sclerosis (MS) patients.

Method
One hundred MS patients responded to questionnaires evaluating neuropathic and nociceptive pain, depression and anxiety. Statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U, Chi-Square and two-tailed Fisher's exact tests and multivariate logistic regression.

Results
Women had a statistically higher prevalence of pain (p = 0.037), and chances of having pain after the age of 50 reduced. Women with pain had a statistically significant lower number of relapses (p = 0.003), restricting analysis to those patients with more than one relapse. After the second relapse, each relapse reduced the chance of having pain by 46%. Presence of pain was independent of Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) anxiety, and depression.

Conclusion Our findings suggest a strong inverse association between relapses and pain indicating a possible protective role of focal inflammation in the control of pain

[Virginia]

Does this mean if we have had a lot of relapses we should not be having much pain? Don't know about these studies.

Thanks Suze-Q.

[Parsi]

I wonder if the pain is actually less or if the perception is less because the body has adjusted or if more "numbing" of the body.

[SuzE-Q]

I know... weird, right?

You'd think inflammation would exacerbate, not mask, pain!