Has anyone tried dalfampridine (Ampyra) or medical marijuana for leg pain that makes walking difficult?
Dalfampridine (Ampyra) is FDA-approved to improve walking ability in people with MS, but it works by improving nerve signal conduction rather than directly treating pain. It helps with walking problems but doesn't Show Full Answer
Has anyone tried dalfampridine (Ampyra) or medical marijuana for leg pain that makes walking difficult?
Dalfampridine (Ampyra) is FDA-approved to improve walking ability in people with MS, but it works by improving nerve signal conduction rather than directly treating pain. It helps with walking problems but doesn't address the underlying pain itself.
For pain specifically, some people with MS find relief using medical cannabis as a complementary treatment for MS symptoms. However, the search results don't provide detailed information about its effectiveness for leg pain specifically.
Since you've experienced side effects from gabapentin, there are other medication options worth discussing with your doctor:
For nerve pain:
- Pregabalin (Lyrica) - similar to gabapentin but may be better tolerated
- Duloxetine (Cymbalta) - works for nerve pain and can also help with mood
- Tricyclic antidepressants like amitriptyline or nortriptyline
For musculoskeletal pain:
- Ibuprofen or naproxen sodium
- Diclofenac (an NSAID)
A MyMSTeam member shared that ibuprofen helped their leg pain significantly, with relief coming within 20-30 minutes, though results vary by person.
Non-medication approaches that might help include physical therapy, hot and cold therapy, acupuncture, and meditation.
It's important to work with your healthcare team to identify what type of pain you're experiencing (nerve pain vs. musculoskeletal) so they can recommend the most appropriate treatment.
January 29
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