Sensory Abnormalities in MS

Abstract

Sensory abnormalities such as numbness, paresthesias, and altered sensations of pain or temperature are common in MS. Using phenomenologic methodology, patient interviews were conducted to assess the occurrence of sensory abnormalities termed “macrosomatic illusions” in MS. These were defined as sensations of “largeness” accompanied by banding and/or tightness in specific body regions. These sensations were reported by 72 MS patients with mean disease duration of 4.7 years and mean EDSS score of 2.9. The phenomena usually affected more than one site: lower extremity (58 reports), torso (36 reports), upper extremity (26 reports), face (9 reports), and entire side of the body (4 reports). The sensations were variously described as “toes are like sausages,” “feels like I'm wearing clown shoes,” “like I have a tight corset on,” or “fingers feel swollen.” In five of seven patients for whom cervical MRI was available at the time of symptoms, lesions were identified in the spinal cord that correlated anatomically with the macrosomatic illusions. Longitudinal prospective studies are warranted to further characterize the prevalence and cause of these phenomena, their impact on disability and quality of life, and association with spinal cord disease.