Multiple sclerosis (MS) can cause tingling in various parts of the body. Identifying triggers and taking medications to relieve this sensation may help.

MS is a chronic autoimmune condition that affects the central nervous system (CNS). With MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, which is the protective coating that lines the nerves.

Read on to learn about why MS can cause tingling, what it feels like, how to manage it, and more.

In MS, cells of the immune system attack a substance called myelin. Myelin protects the nerves throughout your nervous system, including the CNS.

These attacks by the immune system cause damage to myelin as well as the nerves underneath. This can cause nerve signaling to become disrupted and ineffective.

Your nervous system communicates through nerve signaling. When sensory nerve pathways are damaged, the brain may not receive sensory information properly.

When this happens, a variety of sensory symptoms can occur. It’s estimated that about 50% of people with MS experience sensory symptoms, which include numbness and tingling. The medical term for this sensation is paresthesia.

Numbness and tingling are often early symptoms of MS, particularly when they affect the:

  • face
  • arms
  • legs
  • trunk

In some cases, it may be the first symptom that you notice. However, it can also occur at any stage of MS.

Tingling and other altered sensations may feel like:

Tingling and numbness might occur together. You may have felt this sensation if you’ve ever had an arm or a leg “fall asleep” by being placed in a certain position for too long.

The intensity of these sensations can greatly vary among individuals. Some may experience only mild tingling. Others may have tingling that significantly affects their ability to perform daily activities.

Altered sensations like tingling are often an early sign of MS. However, these sensations can come or go at any point.

It’s possible that numbness and tingling can also happen during an MS relapse. A 2018 study involving 5,311 people with MS found that 80% reported experiencing tingling and numbness during a relapse.

Taking medications to help prevent the progression of MS may help ease altered sensations and other symptoms.

Your doctor may also recommend treatments that specifically target tingling, often with medications that usually treat neuropathic pain.

These can include:

  • the antiseizure drugs gabapentin and pregabalin
  • antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Triptafen)
  • opioids such as tramadol if tingling causes acute pain
  • capsaicin cream if oral medications are unsuitable

Avoiding any known triggers can also help. But sometimes, there’s no identifiable trigger for altered sensations with MS.

Make an appointment with a medical professional if you experience tingling.

Your doctor can determine whether tingling is due to MS or the result of another condition.

Once you’ve made an appointment with a doctor for numbness and tingling, prepare for your visit by:

  • keeping track of your symptoms and writing down what they feel like, the specific area of your body where they happen, and when they happen
  • writing down any medications, vitamins, or herbal supplements you’re taking
  • listing any personal or family history of health conditions
  • preparing any other questions for your doctor

MS can cause tingling and other altered sensations. For some people, tingling can be the first symptom of MS, but it can happen at any point.

Tingling most often affects the arms, legs, trunk, and face. It can range in intensity from mild to severe.

Medications that can help slow the progression of MS may help reduce tingling. Your doctor may also recommend antidepressants or antiseizure medications to reduce altered sensations.

Talk with your doctor if you experience new or worsening tingling with MS. Your doctor can determine whether it’s due to MS or another cause, and they can advise on suitable treatments that may help.