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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Are Muscle Spasms And Continuous Fever Common In Multiple Sclerosis?

Age: 55 years Height: 5ft4in Weight: 65 kg Medical History: Multiple Sclerosis Patient My mother is a Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis patient. She has recently developed some muscle spasms below her right arm and continous fever (varying from 99 - 101 degrees). Is this common in MS? She is currently taking only multivitamins and does physiotherapy, and is not on any specialised therapies liek interferons. Also she has a little coughing tendency and conplains about not able to eat properly because of things getting stuck in her food pipe. She is even not able to sleep properly in night. Please suggest.
Mon, 12 Jan 2015
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Neurologist,  's  Response
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.

The primary progressive form of MS your mother has unfortunately is the worst form of MS, for which no effective course changing treatment has been found. Treatment is limited only to alleviate symptoms and physical therapy.
Manifestations of MS can be multiple according to the affected areas and if your mother has had the disease for a long time chances are she's at an advanced stage with many neurological deficits. One of the features of these neurological deficits is spasticity which I guess is the cause of what you call spasms. Bilateral damage or involvement of brainstem could also cause difficulty swallowing.
As for fever that could be as a result of an infection. Most common infections in MS patients are urinary tract infections, but in her case with difficulty swallowing there is predisposition to aspirate secretions in her airways and have respiratory infection. So to find cause an urine analysis and chest x-ray is indicated.
Symptomatic treatment for spasticity usually is with a drug called Baclofen while for the infection with antibiotics according to the type of infection that will come out in tests.

I hope to have been of help.
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Are Muscle Spasms And Continuous Fever Common In Multiple Sclerosis?

I read your question carefully and I understand your concern. The primary progressive form of MS your mother has unfortunately is the worst form of MS, for which no effective course changing treatment has been found. Treatment is limited only to alleviate symptoms and physical therapy. Manifestations of MS can be multiple according to the affected areas and if your mother has had the disease for a long time chances are she s at an advanced stage with many neurological deficits. One of the features of these neurological deficits is spasticity which I guess is the cause of what you call spasms. Bilateral damage or involvement of brainstem could also cause difficulty swallowing. As for fever that could be as a result of an infection. Most common infections in MS patients are urinary tract infections, but in her case with difficulty swallowing there is predisposition to aspirate secretions in her airways and have respiratory infection. So to find cause an urine analysis and chest x-ray is indicated. Symptomatic treatment for spasticity usually is with a drug called Baclofen while for the infection with antibiotics according to the type of infection that will come out in tests. I hope to have been of help.