Neurological Services

Pain & Spasticity

There are many types of pain, for example, there may musculoskeletal pain such as joint pain or neuropathic pain related to nerve damage. Nerve damage can come from damage to the nerve in trauma or in certain chronic medical illnesses such as diabetes, many patients may experience neuropathic pain in their legs which may manifest as sharp, shocking pain. Sometimes, patients may experience a combination of such as lower back pain which also has nerve pain radiating down one leg known as radicular pain. It’s important to ascertain the cause of the nerve pain and not only treat the pain, try to treat the cause of the pain for a more definitive solution.

Spasticity is seen in patients who have sustained muscular contractions after brain or spinal cord damage. This may result in abnormal body positions and significant pain.

In some instances, patients with spasticity and chronic pain may have overlapping emotional symptoms such as Depression/Anxiety and Insomnia to name a few. As part of a comprehensive strategy, we may also recommend consultations with a Psychiatrist.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)

What You Need To Know

A clinical examination would normally give sufficient information, however sometimes we may need additional information and a Nerve Conduction Study/Electromyogram (NCS/EMG) maybe requested.

The cornerstone of spasticity treatment is physical therapy. Should this fail to minimize symptoms, we usually add medications of Botulinum Toxin (Botox) injections to the muscles that are spastic.