Multiple sclerosis, or MS, affects the nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord, according to MedlinePlus.com. MS damages the myelin sheath of the nerve that helps conduct nerve impulses. When the myelin sheath develops scar tissue and hardens (sclerosis), the communication between the brain and body slows, which causes the symptoms of MS.
Numbness of the Limbs
Numbness or weakness in one or more extremities (arms or legs) develops in many patients suffering from multiple sclerosis, according to MayoClinic.com. This symptom usually presents on one side of the body or in both legs.
Balance Abnormalities
Patients suffering from MS may experience problems with balance or equilibrium, according to HealthCommunities.com. Dizziness, tremors, and vertigo develop because of damage to the nerve cells that control muscle coordination and balance.
Loss of Vision
Patients with MS may develop partial or complete loss of vision, according to MayoClinic.com. The loss of vision usually affects one eye at a time. Optic neuritis, or pain upon eye movement, can accompany the loss of vision.
Double Vision
Multiple sclerosis can cause a blurring of vision, or double vision, according to MayoClinic.com. This symptom usually precedes loss of vision. The symptom worsens as more damage accumulates on the optic nerve. Uncontrollable eye movements may accompany the double vision.
Bladder and Bowel Dysfunction
As the disease damages nerves that supply the urinary and excretory system, the muscles, or sphincters, of these systems begin to relax. This weakening can lead to urinary incontinence and constipation, according to HealthCommunities.com.
Behavioral Changes
Sometimes patients with MS undergo mild to severe behavioral changes. HealthCommunities.com reports that patients can experience swift mood changes or severe bouts of depression.
Cognitive Dysfunction
MS patients may suffer from impaired memory, decreased reasoning ability or difficulty concentrating, according to HealthCommunities.com. Cognitive dysfunction may develop so gradually as to escape notice or become apparent suddenly depending on the degree of damage to the brain.
Motor Abnormalities
Multiple sclerosis, according to Health Communities.com, causes muscle weakness and involuntary muscle spasms, or tremors.
Abnormal Sensations
Patients with multiple sclerosis may experience tingling or pain in different parts of their bodies. According to Mayo Clinic, an MS patient may feel an electric-shock sensation that radiates across the neck and shoulders when the patient moves her head.
Sexual Dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction can occur with MS. Patients may experience erectile dysfunction or complain of extended periods of sexual stimulation or activity.
