Unfortunately, MS also causes spasticity, which feels like tightness or cramping. Neuropathic pain can feel like a burning sensation. Trigeminal neuralgia can feel like sudden or intermittent bursts of pain. Sometimes pain happens and you have no idea whether it's caused by MS or something entirely unrelated.

The muscles in your back can react to the irregularity by going into spasms or you may experience sharp, stabbing, pains. In this case, physical therapy or medications,may help to relieve the pain. Whatever the cause, most back pain is treatable.

Sometimes surgery is necessary, or at least warranted. Most times it's up to you to make the decision. And several factors can come into play as to whether or not you decide to have the surgery. If you can tolerate the pain or manage it with medication and/or therapy, then you may opt against having the surgery.

If you have the surgery and it doesn't work, there are still things you can do. More therapy or medication may be in order. Or you can explore possibilities like pain blockers, a TENs Unit or eventually a Spinal Cord Stimulator.

Most of these can be used instead of surgery if you just don't want to go that route, or after surgery has failed. Hopefully after talking with your doctor, you can both come up with something that works to alleviate your back pain, whether it's due to MS or something else.