Have you ever felt a sensation like cold water running through your body? Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological condition that can interfere with the signals between the brain and other areas. Besides common symptoms like fatigue, MS can sometimes lead to cold sensitivity or other odd sensations. One MyMSTeam member asked, “Does anyone have a sensation of a cold stream of water running down your leg?”

If you have MS, it’s helpful to know that the central nervous system symptoms of MS encompass a wide range of issues, including altered sensations. Here, we explore possible explanations for these feelings and how you can manage sensory symptoms.

Many members of MyMSTeam describe altered sensations, often called paresthesia, such as burning, itching, and buzzing. One member said, “I have the feeling of a sock on my leg, numbness and tingling at times, but sometimes it feels like a stream of cold water is running down my calf to my heel.”

“I get the cold water sensation as well! I used to think I peed myself.”

— A MyMSTeam member

Neuropathic pain (nerve pain) isn’t the same for everyone. “I do get the feelings of having socks on both legs along with the tingling, buzzing, and vibrations,” one member explained, “as well as the feeling of my feet on fire.”

People with MS who experience paresthesia have described a wide range of sensations, including:

• Itching
• Pins and needles
• Crawling
• Wetness
• Trickling
• Stabbing
• Prickling
• Tingling
• Static
• Burning
• Numbness

If you have experienced sensations like those and then looked at your skin, you probably saw nothing out of the ordinary.

Think back to when you experienced one of those sensations. Was it painful? What set it off? How did it go away? If you know your triggers — such as wind or physical touch — you may be better prepared for these sensations in the future.

Members Describe Cold Sensations

One MyMSTeam member described one of these paresthesias. “I experience cold sensations in my legs, especially during cooler seasons, fall/winter,” they said.

“I have random cold sensations in my legs, both or one at a time.”

— A MyMSTeam member

Another member described how the sensation of random cold spots on their body appeared before they even had an MS diagnosis: “Before MS showed on my MRI, cold prickles down my calves was a bothersome symptom.”

Some members feel a chill in one or both legs. “I have random cold sensations in my legs, both or one at a time,” one member said.

Someone with MS might experience the sensation of ice trickling through their veins because of nerve damage. In MS, the immune system attacks the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Lesions form on the myelin sheath (the protective layer around each nerve cell), which means the nerve fibers may be more prone to sending random signals to the brain. Your brain can’t distinguish these false alarms from more familiar external sensations, such as the feeling of cold water streaming down your leg. Therefore, you may feel these sensations for no apparent physical reason at any random moment.

In one study, researchers reported that about half of participants with MS — regardless of the severity of their condition — experienced some sort of abnormal sensation. In another study of people living with MS, 8 percent had experienced painful altered sensations — also called dysesthesia — in the past six months, according to the Multiple Sclerosis Trust.

You can reduce the impact of these sensory symptoms of MS on your life:

• Manage your other MS symptoms.
• Ask about medications for nerve pain.
• Use hot or cold therapy.
• Try mental and physical exercises.
• Take care of your mental health.

Manage Your Other MS Symptoms

Paresthesia is more likely to occur during an MS flare, when nerve damage from MS is at its peak. However, it can also be a lingering symptom from earlier damage, making it difficult to tell the difference between the two. Speak with your neurologist or another health care provider about all your symptoms, including specific neuropathic pain. Using this information, you can work with your health care team to create a treatment plan best suited to your needs.

“I like to stand up and walk around to ‘brush off’ the cooling sensations down my legs. It helps.”

— A MyMSTeam member

For example, disease-modifying treatment can help stop MS disease progression. During MS attacks, your neurologist may prescribe drugs like corticosteroids (steroids) and plasma exchange treatment. These medications and procedures should help reduce many of your MS symptoms, including paresthesia.

Ask About Medications for Nerve Pain

In addition to medications that control inflammation and prevent MS from progressing, you can also ask your doctor about medications that target neuropathic pain.

Medications to treat neuropathic pain include:

• Certain antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil)
• Certain types of anticonvulsants (seizure medications), such as gabapentin (Neurontin)

Use Hot or Cold Therapy

Nonpharmaceutical, at-home solutions for managing neuropathic pain include applying hot or cold packs to overcome the sensation or at least distract from it until it goes away naturally.

Try Mental and Physical Exercises

Consider practicing mindfulness meditation, a type of mental training linked to greater awareness and control over one’s physical sensations.

Physical activity has also been shown to reduce MS paresthesia. Not only did an eight-week yoga and aquatic exercise program reduce MS-induced paresthesia for a group of 54 women with MS, but it also reduced fatigue and boosted their quality of life, according to a study published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.

One member explained a tip for reducing the cold sensation in their legs: “I like to stand up and walk around to ‘brush off’ the cooling sensations down my legs. It helps.”

Take Care of Your Mental Health

Finally, take care of your mental health. Anxiety and depression have been linked to a worsening of MS symptoms. Don’t hesitate to seek counseling if you need it. It’s important to keep your neurology team notified of all of your symptoms, whether or not they cause pain.

Always remember that you aren’t alone on your MS journey. As one member said about paresthesia: “It’s all totally normal! It happens to most of us, promise.” Continue to seek support from your MS community — recognizing strange sensations as symptoms of MS is the first step to managing them.

On MyMSTeam, the social network for people with multiple sclerosis and their loved ones, more than 216,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with MS.

Have you experienced cold sensations while living with MS? What advice would you offer to others facing a similar situation? Share your tips and experiences in a comment below or on your Activities page.