Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive, immune-mediated disorder. That means the system designed to keep your body healthy mistakenly attacks parts of your body that are vital to everyday function. The protective coverings of nerve cells are damaged, which leads to diminished function in the brain and spinal cord.
MS is a disease with unpredictable symptoms that can vary in intensity. While some people experience fatigue and numbness, severe cases of MS can cause paralysis, vision loss, and diminished brain function.
Common early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) include:
You may not notice the vision problems immediately, as degeneration of clear vision can be slow. Pain when you look up or to one side also can accompany vision loss. There are variety of ways to cope with MS-related vision changes.
MS affects nerves in the brain and spinal cord (the body’s message center). This means it can send conflicting signals around the body. Sometimes, no signals are sent. This results in numbness.
Tingling sensations and numbness are one of the most common warning signs of MS. Common sites of numbness include the face, arms, legs, and fingers.
Chronic pain and involuntary muscle spasmsare also common with MS. One study, according to the National MS Society, showed that half of people with MS had chronic pain.
Muscle stiffness or spasms (spasticity) are also common. You might experience stiff muscles or joints as well as uncontrollable, painful jerking movements of the extremities. The legs are most often affected, but back pain is also common.
Unexplained fatigue and weaknessaffect about 80 percent of people in the early stages of MS.
Chronic fatigue occurs when nerves deteriorate in the spinal column. Usually, the fatigue appears suddenly and lasts for weeks before improving. The weakness is most noticeable in the legs at first.
Dizziness and problems with coordination and balance can decrease the mobility of someone with MS. Your doctor may refer to these as problems with your gait. People with MS often feel lightheaded, dizzy, or as if their surroundings are spinning (vertigo). This symptom often occurs when you stand up.
Sexual arousal can also be a problem for people with MS because it begins in the central nervous system — where MS attacks.
About half of people with MS will develop some kind of issue with their cognitivefunction. This can include:
- memory problems
- shortened attention span
- language problems
- difficulty staying organized
Depression and other emotional health problems are also common.
Major depression is common among people with MS. The stresses of MS can also cause irritability, mood swings, and a condition called pseudobulbar affect. This involves bouts of uncontrollable crying and laughing.
Coping with MS symptoms, along with relationship or family issues, can make depression and other emotional disorders even more challenging.
Not everyone with MS will have the same symptoms. Different symptoms can manifest during relapses or attacks. Along with the symptoms mentioned on the previous slides, MS can also cause:
MS isn’t necessarily hereditary. However, you have a higher chance of developing the disease if you have a close relative with MS, according to the National MS Society.
The general population only has 0.1 percent chance of developing MS. But the number jumps to 2.5 to 5 percent if you have a sibling or parent with MS.
Heredity isn’t the only factor in determining MS. An identical twin only has a 25 percent chance of developing MS if their twin has the disease. While genetics is certainly a risk factor, it’s not the only one.
A doctor — most likely a neurologist — will perform several tests to diagnose MS, including:
- neurological exam: your doctor will check for impaired nerve function
- eye exam: a series of tests to evaluate your vision and check for eye diseases
- magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): a technique that uses a powerful magnetic field and radio waves to create cross-sectional images of the brain and spinal cord
- spinal tap (also called a lumbar puncture): a test involving a long needle that’s inserted into your spine to remove a sample of fluid circulating around your brain and spinal cord
Doctors use these tests to look for damage to the central nervous system in two separate areas. They must also determine that at least one month has passed between the episodes that caused damage. These tests are also used to rule out other conditions.
MS often astounds doctors because of how much it can vary in both its severity and the ways that it affects people. Attacks can last a few weeks and then disappear. However, relapses can get progressively worse and more unpredictable, and come with different symptoms. Early detection may help prevent MS from progressing quickly.
Misdiagnosis is also possible. A study found that nearly 75 percent of surveyed MS specialists had seen at least three patients over the past 12 months who had been misdiagnosed.
MS is a challenging disorder, but researchers have discovered many treatments that can slow its progression.
The best defense against MS is seeing your doctor immediately after you experience the first warning signs. This is especially important if someone in your immediate family has the disorder, as it’s one of the key risk factors for MS.
Don’t hesitate. It could make all the difference.
Lately my legs have been going numb. I was diagnosed with MS in 2009 and this is new to me. How long does it last? I now have to use a cane. Any advice?Jenn
These sound like new neurologic deficits and could represent an MS flare or attack. These should prompt urgent evaluation by your neurologist. Your provider may want to obtain new MRIs to see if there has been progression of your illness. It would also be important to exclude other causes of these symptoms like a urinary infection or other illness. If these symptoms are related to an MS attack, there are medications your neurologist can give you, like steroids, which may help to treat the symptoms of an attack. Further, if you are having an attack, your doctor may want to switch your immunosuppressive medication as this could be considered a breakthrough event.The Healthline Medical TeamAnswers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.