MS Fighter

Pain is part of the fight, but it should not own you. Pain is something every fighter knows. It’s the burn in your muscles after a hard workout, the sting of a punch that lands clean, the ache of pushing past your limits. But the pain that comes with multiple sclerosis? That’s a different kind of battle. It’s relentless, it doesn’t show up after exertion—it lingers, unpredictable and unforgiving. You feel dull, nagging discomfort that hums in the background. It can be sharp, electric, and impossible to ignore. Maybe it’s stiffness that makes getting out of bed feel like moving through wet cement. Maybe it’s the nerve pain that feels like fire under the skin, or the muscle spasms that hit like an ambush. The worst part? There’s no clear reason for it. It’s not from a hard session in the gym or a long day on my feet. It just is. You must live with it, every single day, and you can’t allow the pain call shots. Pain is just another opponent in the ring, another weight on the bar. And just like in any fight, you have two choices: let it break you, or learn how to push through, adjust, and keep moving forward.

This post is about how I fight back. How I manage MS-related pain while still staying strong, training hard, and living my life on my terms. If you’re dealing with chronic pain—whether from MS or any other battle—you’re not alone. And more importantly, you’re not powerless. There are ways to take control, to adapt, and to keep fighting. Because at the end of the day, pain is temporary—but strength, resilience, and discipline? That lasts.

Understanding MS-Related Pain. More Than Just Discomfort.

When most people think about multiple sclerosis, they picture mobility issues, fatigue, or numbness at best. But one of the hardest symptoms to deal with—one that isn’t talked about enough—is pain. And not just the kind of pain that comes from an injury or a tough workout, but pain that’s unpredictable, relentless, and often visible to everyone else. MS-related pain isn’t like the soreness you get from lifting heavy. It’s not the sharp sting of a broken bone or the ache of an overused muscle. It’s something different, something unique to this condition. And if you’re living with MS, understanding why you feel pain—and what kind of pain it is—is the first step in figuring out how to manage it.

There are two main types of pain people with MS experience:

1. Neuropathic pain

This is when your nervous system betrays you and it is the most common type of MS pain. It happens due to damage of the nerves themselves. Your brain and spinal cord are sending the wrong signals, telling you that something hurts—even when there’s no physical injury. Neurophatic pain can show up as:

• Burning sensations: like your skin is on fire for no reason.
• Electric shocks: sudden, sharp zaps of pain out of nowhere.
• Pins & needles: the feeling of your limbs “falling asleep”, but it doesn’t go away.
• Tightness or squeezing: sometimes called MS hug, where your torso feels like it’s being crushed by an invisible band.

This type of pain isn’t caused by movement or activity—it just happens, often randomly. That’s what makes it so frustrating. You can be resting, doing nothing at all, and suddenly feel like your body is under attack.

• Musculoskeletal pain

This is when MS changes how you move. This type of pain doesn’t come directly from nerve damage, but from the way MS affects your body over time. When muscles weaken or become stiff, it forces other parts of your body to work harder. Over time, that strain leads to pain—especially in the back, beck, and joints. Musculoskeletal pain comes from:

• Muscle imbalances: if one part of your body is weaker, other muscles compensate, leading to strain.
• Spasticity and stiffness: tight muscles that don’t want to loosen up, causing constant tension.
• Changes in movement patterns: if MS affects your gait, posture, or balance, it can put stress on your body in ways it wasn’t designed to handle.

Unlike neuropathic pain, musculoskeletal pain is often made worse by inactivity. That’s why movement—when done the right way—can actually reduce this kind of pain over time.

So why MS pain is different from “normal” pain? Pain from an injury has a clear cause and effect: you sprain your ankle, it swells, it hurts, and over time, it heals. However, MS pain doesn’t follow that pattern—or any pattern in general. It will come out of nowhere, with no injury or strain. It can last for minutes, hours, or days. And worst of all, it doesn’t always respond to traditional painkillers. That’s why pain management with MS isn’t as simple as popping a pill or taking a day off. It requires a strategy. It requires understanding your own body, recognizing patterns (even the chaotic ones), and figuring out what works for you. 

In the next section, I’ll break down how I use strength training and movement—not just to stay fit, but to fight pain head-on. Because while MS pain might be unpredictable, one thing is certain: the stronger I am, the better I can handle whatever this disease throws at me.

Strength Training & Movement. The Unexpected Pain Reliever.

When you’re in pain, the last thing you want to do is move. It’s human nature—when something hurts, you avoid it. But with MS, staying still only makes things worse. Movement, when done correctly, is one of the most powerful tools for managing chronic pain. It keeps your muscle strong, prevents stiffness, and helps your nervous system function as smoothly as possible. I’ve learned this firsthand. There were times when MS-related pain had me questioning if I should even be lifting. But every time I stopped moving, the pain got worse. My body stiffened up, my fatigue increased, and even simple tasks felt harder. On the other hand, when I trained regularly and moved with intention, my pain became more manageable. The key wasn’t just any movement—it was the right kind of movement. 

Strength training does more than just build muscle—it stabilizes the body, improves posture, and prevents unnecessary strain. Generally, MS weaken certain muscles, forcing others to overcompensate. This imbalance leads to chronic pain in areas like the lower back, neck, and knees. By strengthening the right muscles, you take the pressure off the ones that are overlooked. Pain is often linked to stiffness, and stiffness is the enemy of movement. Strength training—combined with proper mobility work—keeps your joints and muscles functioning the way they should. When your body moves efficiently, there’s less strain and, as a results, less pain. While strength training can’t cure neuropathic pain, it can reduce its intensity. When your body is stronger, it handles stress (both physical and neurological) better. Additionally, movement encourages better circulation, which can sometimes ease nerve-related discomfort.

Examples

• If one leg is weaker due to MS, your stronger leg might take on more of the workload when walking. Over time, this imbalance causes hip and back pain. Strength training helps bring balance back, so no single part of the body is under too much stress.
• If your shoulders and upper back are tight, simple movements like reaching or turning your head can become painful. Strengthening and stretching these areas keeps them loose and pain-free.

On days, when the pain is minimal, I can train at full intensity. Other days, MS makes itself known, and I have to adjust. But here’s the rule I live by: I always do something. Even if it’s a light session, even if it’s just a stretching, movement is always part of my day. Here’s how I modify my training when pain levels are high:

• Lowering the weight, increasing the reps

If my body feels off, I go lighter and focus on perfect form. Heavy lifting is great, but not when my nervous system is already fried. Higher reps (12-15) with controlled movement keep my muscles active without adding unnecessary stress.

• Prioritizing compound movements

Squats, deadlifts, pull-ups, and presses—these exercises work multiple muscle groups at once, giving me the most return on investment. Instead of isolating muscles (which can cause overuse pain), I focus on functional strength.

• Using more bodyweight & mobility work

On rough days, bodyweight exercises like lunges, push-ups, and planks keep me moving without overloading my system. I also dedicate extra time to stretching and foam rolling—two things that can instantly help with MS-related pain.

• Listening to my body (but not letting it control me)

This is a fine line. MS pain is real, and sometimes pushing through isn’t smart. But other times, pain is just resistance—something that wants to stop me but doesn’t need to. I’ve learned to recognize the difference between destructive pain—the kind that signals real damage—and challenging pain—the kind that’s uncomfortable but manageable.

MS pain can’t always be avoided, but it can be managed. Strength training isn’t just about looking good or lifting heavy—it’s about taking control of your body. The stronger you are, the better you can handle the ups and downs of MS. The key is knowing when to push and when to adjust. Because remember: Staying still never made anything better.

Recovery & Pain Management Strategies. Training Hard, Healing Smart.

Strength training and movement are essential for managing MS-related pain, but they’re only half of the equation. Recovery is the other half—the part that allows the body to repair itself, reduce inflammation, and stay strong in the long run. Without proper recovery, even the best training plan can backfire, making pain worse instead of better. I’ve learned the hard way that MS pain isn’t just about what I do in the gym—it’s also about how I take care of myself outside of it. Recovery isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. If I want to train hard, stay strong, and keep MS from controlling my life, I have to treat recovery like a non-negotiable part of my routine.

Here’s how I do it.

1. The role of cold therapy

I’ve written about this before, but cold therapy deserves another mention because of how effective it is for pain relief. Cold exposure are a game-changer for managing both muscle soreness and neuropathic pain.

• Reduces inflammation – cold therapy helps control inflammation, which can flare up after training or due to MS itself.
• Numbs nerve pain – the cold can dull overactive nerve signals, providing temporary relief from burning or tingling sensations.
• Speeds up recovery – after intense workouts, cold exposure helps flush out waste products in the muscles, reducing stiffness and soreness.

I make cold therapy part of my regular routine—especially after hard training sessions or on days when MS pain is particularly bad. It’s not comfortable, but neither is chronic pain. And if I have to choose between five minutes of discomfort in an ice bath or hours of nerve pain, I’ll take the ice bath every time.

• Sleep. The ultimate painkiller.

If you don’t sleep well, you will feel more pain—it’s that simple. Poor sleep increases inflammation, messes with the nervous system, and makes it harder for the body to recover. Yet, MS itself often causes sleep problems, creating a vicious cycle: pain makes sleep harder, and lack of sleep makes pain worse. I prioritize my sleep just like I do my workouts. Here’s what helps:

• A strict sleep schedule – going to bed and waking up at the same time every day helps regulate my body’s internal clock.
• Cold and dark room – a cool, pitch-black room promotes deeper sleep. I use blackout curtains and keep the temperature low.
• Limiting screen time – blue light from phones and computers messes with melatonin production, so I shut down screens an hour before bed. Try books instead.
• Magnesium and CBD – these can help with relaxation and muscle recovery, making it easier to fall and stay asleep.

I treat sleep like an essential part of my training because that’s exactly what it is. Without good      sleep, my recovery suffers, my pain increases, and my energy levels crash.

• Nutrition. Fueling recovery & reducing inflammation.

What you eat plays a huge role in how your body handles pain. Inflammation is a big problem for MS, and the wrong food can make it even worse. Over time, I’ve learned which foods help my recovery and which ones make pain and fatigue worse.

What I eat to reduce pain & inflammation

• Omega-3s – found in salmon, flaxseeds, and walnuts, omega-3 fatty acids help fight inflammation.
• Turmeric – a natural anti-inflammatory that I add to my meals or take as a supplement.
• Dark leafy greens – spinach, kale, and Swiss chard provide vitamins that support nervous system function.
• Protein – high-quality protein (chicken, beef, eggs) is crucial for muscle recovery
• Water – hydration is key. Dehydration can increase muscle cramps and stiffness, so I make sure I’m drinking enough throughout the day.

What I avoid (at least I try my best)

• Sugar & processed foods – these cause inflammation and make a fatigue worse.
• Excess alcohol – while the occasional drink is fine, too much alcohol messes with sleep and increases inflammation.
• Artificial junk – preservatives, artificial sweeteners, and chemicals in processed foods can trigger inflammation and worsen symptoms.

I don’t believe in strict diets, but I do believe in eating in a way that supports my recovery. The more real, whole foods I eat, the better I feel.

The Mental Battle. Not Letting Pain Define You.

Pain is relentless and it doesn’t care about your plans, your goals, or your drive to keep pushing forward. It shows up uninvited, tests your patience, and dares you to quit. With MS, pain is more than just an occasional inconvenience—it’s a constant opponent in the ring, waiting to see if you’ll break. I won’t lie, there are days when it feels like MS has the upper hand. The nerve pain, the muscle stiffness, the fatigue—it all builds up, and your mind starts whispering—Why are you even doing this? Why not just give in? —but that is exactly the moment when I realize that pain might be part of my story, but it will never dictate my life. There’s a difference between pain and suffering. Pain is inevitable, it’s simply part of the deal when you have MS, when you push your body to its limits, when you wake up some mornings feeling like you’ve been hit by a truck. But suffering—that’s mental. Suffering happens when you let pain dictate how you see yourself, when you let it control your attitude, your actions, and your self-worth. I refuse to suffer, I feel pain, I acknowledge it, but I don’t live in it. Instead, I focus on what I can control.

• How I react to pain—Do I let it frustrate me, or do I adapt?
• How I talk to myself—Do I complain and dwell on what hurts, or do I focus on what I can do?
• How I push forward—Do I use pain as an excuse to quit, or as a reason to fight harder?

The thing is that pain doesn’t get to define me—my actions do. When I think about resilience, I always come back to fighting—boxing, lifting, or just life itself. The strongest fighters aren’t the ones who never get hit. They’re the ones who take the hits, adjust, and keep moving forward. That’s the mindset I, you, should carry every single day. The list of approaches that keep me mentally strong even when the pain tries to break me is the following.

1. Accepting the fight, not resisting it

A lot of people spend their energy wishing things were different. They get caught in the cycle of—Why me? —and end up fighting a battle they can’t win—trying to erase something that simply won’t go away. I’ve learned to stop resisting and start embracing the fight. MS is part of my (and your) life. So is pain. But so is my ability to adapt, grow, and get stronger despite it.

• Finding strength in discipline

Motivation is fleeting, especially on high-pain days. If I only trained when I felt good, I’d barely train at all. That’s why discipline is everything. No matter how I feel, I stick to my plan. Most likely I don’t hit my max lifts every day, maybe I have to modify my workouts, but I always show up. Because showing up, even in pain, is what builds real strength, physical but primarily mental.

• Reframing pain as a test

Instead of seeing pain as an obstacle, I see it as a challenge—a test of how mentally tough I am. Some of the strongest people in history—athletes, warriors, survivors—have all endured pain and kept going. If they could do it, so can I…and you. Every time I push through, I prove to myself that I’m stronger than whatever MS throws at me.

• Controlling what I can, letting go of the rest

Obviously there are days when pain slows me body, when my body doesn’t cooperate, days when MS reminds me that it’s still there. But I’ve learned to separate what I can control from what I can’t. Indeed I can’t control nerve damage, but I can control my training. I can’t control bad pain days, but I can control my attitude. I focus all my energy on what’s within my power—and I refuse to waste time on what’s not.

You have to remember—Pain is a chapter, not the whole story. At the end of the day, MS pain is just one part of your life. It’s not your identity. It’s not the things that defines who you are or what you’re capable of. You have MS, but MS doesn’t have you. I personally lift, I fight, I push through. Not because it’s easy, but because the alternative—letting pain win—isn’t an option. Pain is going to show up—that’s a fact. But whether it controls you? That’s a choice.

Living Strong Despite the Pain.

Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional. Living with MS means navigating a constant battle between pushing forward and knowing when to pull back. It’s about learning to adapt, embracing resilience, and refusing to let pain dictate the terms of your life. For years, I thought strength was about physical power—how much weight I could lift, how hard I could hit, how far I could push myself. My inner self knew this is not completely true but only after my diagnosis, MS taught me that true strength goes beyond muscle. It’s in the discipline to keep going when everything in your body tells you to stop. It’s in the ability to stand tall even when you feel like collapsing. It’s in the mindset that says—This pain is real, but it doesn’t define me. Nevertheless, I won’t sugarcoat it—there are days when MS pain feels like it has the upper hand. Days when fatigue crashes over me like a tidal wave, when my nerves feel like they’re on fire, when my body moves like it’s wading through cement. But on those days, I always remind myself why I fight. I fight because giving up isn’t an option. I fight because every rep, every round, every step forward is a victory over the disease that wants to slow me down.

Strength isn’t about avoiding pain—it’s about rising above it. MS may take its shots, but you should hit back harder. You train not just for muscle, but for resilience. You push through pain not because you enjoy it, but because every challenge you overcome makes you stronger that you were yesterday. Strength isn’t just about how much weight you can lift—it’s about how much struggle you can carry without breaking. If you’re reading this and dealing with your own battles—whether it’s MS, chronic pain, or anything else that tries to hold you down—remember this You are stronger than you think. The pain may be there, but so is your power to rise above it.

Now I want to hear from you. How do you deal with pain? What strategies help you push through? Drop a comment below and let’s build a community of warriors who refuse to quit.