Finger contractures and MS

I received the following question on the MSF African-American forum:

Question:

Dear Doctor,

Are finger contractures a MS symptom? If so, what is the remedy?

Thanks.

Answer:

Thank you for the excellent question -- we need to approach your question as three separate ones:

1. Is what you are describing called finger contractures?

2. Can MS be the cause of the symptom?

3. How can you treat the symptom?

Before we go onto "1," let's describe for everyone what you mean by finger contractures:

Finger contractures are when the fingers are more than simply tight (spasticity), but actually shortned muscles or tendons from being contracted for too long. This makes the fingers look like they are tight and abnormal.

1. One should not simply assuming that every tight finger muscles is a contracture. For example, dystonia ("dys" -- "abnormal" or "bad" muscle tone) may appear to you as a contracture, but it is completely different and has different treatments.

Your neurologist can help you with this.


2.Yes, MS can cause spasticity, that if left for a long time, could turn into contractures. However, there are any other reasons for contractures.

So, once again -- speak to your neurologist.


3. Your treatment plan, is just that -- YOUR treatment plan and should be individualized and personalized in a partnership between you and your neurologist.

For actual contractures (not simply spasticity, which may be treated with stretching, yoga, oral muscle relaxants, injectable botulinum toxin and intrathecal baclofen pumps etc.), surgical release is sometimes considered.


I hope that this was useful.

Thank you,

Daniel Kantor, MD
Medical Director
Neurologique

President
Florida Society of Neurology
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