Multiple sclerosis is an immune disorder where the body mistakenly attacks critical parts of the body needed to function on a daily basis. It can be unpredictable, with symptoms varying in intensity and appearance from one person to the next.
There are some common symptoms that most MS sufferers get and a few less common symptoms that may or may not appear.
These common early signs of multiple sclerosis are ones that the majority of people with the disease have. They also tend to be some of the earliest symptoms that cause people to schedule an appointment with their doctor to find out what's going on.
It's important to note that one symptom by itself can be completely unrelated to MS. If multiple symptoms are present, however, scheduling an appointment with your primary care physician is a good idea.
Vision changes are one of the most common symptoms but it may not be noticed right away. The changes in vision may be slow and barely noticeable until they get really bad. You may experience blurred vision, double vision, or even a complete vision loss. If you experience vision loss, you may also notice pain when you look up or to one side.
Pain is one of the most common signs. According to one study, roughly 55% of MS sufferers had "clinically significant pain" at one time, and approximately 50% had chronic, or ongoing, pain.
Both chronic pain and involuntary muscle spasms are common with MS. You may also experience stiff muscles or joints. Typically, the legs are most affected but it may also present as back pain.
The brain and spinal cord are the body's messaging center. Unfortunately, these are also the nerves that MS affects. This results in conflicting, or no, signals being sent through the body. If no signals are sent, you'll experience numbness. Tingling and numbness tend to be some of the most common warning signs for most people.
Numbness from MS most commonly occurs in the face, arms, legs, and fingers.
People with MS report feeling lightheaded, dizzy, or as if their surroundings are spinning when they stand up and occasionally at other times. This may inhibit your mobility.
Your mobility may also be affected by a lack of coordination and balance. If your doctor says that you have trouble with your gait, this is what they mean.
Most people in the early stages of MS report unexplained fatigue and weakness. The fatigue often appears suddenly and lasts for weeks, then improves. Eventually, it becomes chronic as the nerves in the spine begin to deteriorate. Weakness often appears in the legs first and most noticeably but can spread beyond those limbs.
Roughly half of MS patients report some sort of cognitive problem. These problems may be a shortened attention span, memory problems, problems staying organized, and language difficulties.
Sexual arousal starts in the central nervous system. MS attacks the central nervous system, which means sexual arousal can be a problem for those with MS.
Bladdar dysfunction can take many forms in MS. It may look like needing to urinate more frequently, strong urges to urinate, or an inability to hold urine. It occurs in most MS patients. It's also usually relatively easy to manage.
Less often, there may be bowel dysfunction. This might include constipation, diarrhea, or a loss of control over the bowels.
It's common for those living with MS to suffer from major depression. Irritability and mood swings are also common results of the stresses of MS, as is a condition called pseudobulbar syndrome known for its bouts of uncontrollable crying and laughter.
The stress that MS takes on the body, relationships, and life, in general, can make pre-existing depression and other mental or emotional health conditions more pronounced.
The previous signs were those that the majority of MS sufferers deal with. The following symptoms are also possible with MS. However, these symptoms are less common. They may also manifest during some relapses or attacks and not others.
Respiratory problems are not common as a result of MS. If they do occur as a direct result of the condition, it's usually due to loss of muscle strength and endurance - the same weakness affecting the rest of the body.
More often, if breathing problems occur, it's due to certain medications or aspiration pneumonia.
The same weakness and lack of coordination affecting the rest of the body can also affect the tongue, lips, cheeks, and mouth, causing slurred speech. Slurred speech can also be a sign of a stroke, so this is a symptom that should always be watched carefully.
Other speech problems that can occur include nasal speech (sounding as if they have a cold), speech volume being decreased due to weakness in the diaphragm, or speech scanning, creating extremely long pauses between words or syllables.
There are two possible explanations for seizures in MS. One is that epilepsy is a little more common in those who also have MS. Another is that brain and spinal cord lesions create movements that look like seizures but aren't.
Focal seizures are the most common type of seizure for those with MS.
Hearing loss only affects about 6% of people with multiple sclerosis. If it does occur, it's often due to damage to the hearing nerves in the brain and brainstem. Most hearing issues tend to come and go, but if a person with MS experiences hearing loss or difficulty, a thorough evaluation should be made because it's such an uncommon symptom.
While tremors are a common symptom, they tend to occur infrequently and as mild shaking, unlike other symptoms that occur more often. There are a few different types of shaking associated with MS, including intention and postural tremors.
Difficulty swallowing tends to occur more often when the patient is in the more advanced stages of MS. The acts of chewing and swallowing require the mouth and throat to work in a coordinated way that is difficult due to the weakness and lack of coordination common in MS. It may also be the result of dry mouth due to medication.
Swallowing problems can result in aspiration, allowing food or liquid to get into the lungs, so it's important to notice and address swallowing issues early.
Multiple sclerosis is a confusing disease with four different types and a variety of symptoms. If you suspect that you or someone you love may have MS, visiting your doctor is important for an early diagnosis and treatment.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional consultation or advice related to your health or finances. No reference to an identifiable individual or company is intended as an endorsement thereof. Some or all of this article may have been generated using artificial intelligence, and it may contain certain inaccuracies or unreliable information. Readers should not rely on this article for information and should consult with professionals for personal advice.