Multiple sclerosis is a disease that damages the protective myelin sheath surrounding the nerve fibers. This impedes the transmission of nerve impulses between the brain and the rest of the body. The first signs and symptoms of MS usually appear in people over 20 years of age but the disease can begin at any time during a person’s life, notes the National Institutes of Health. The NIH points out that the symptoms, severity and location of each MS attack may vary.
Paresthesias
Some of the more common early symptoms of MS are unusual sensations called paresthesias, explains the Merck Manual. A person may experience tingling, prickling or burning sensations on one side of their face or on their hands, feet or trunk. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke mentions that for many people these symptoms may include feelings of numbness or the sensation of “pins and needles.”
Weakness and Stiffness
Another common early symptom of MS is clumsiness or weakness in a hand or leg. A person might notice that one arm or leg becomes unusually exhausted very quickly. He might feel stiffness in one of his limbs or may experience slight problems walking, notes the Merck Manual. Some people may lose their balance, notes the peer-reviewed health and medical educational website eMedTV. Others may notice some of these signs such as the unusual gait or loss of balance.
Vision Problems
A person may experience difficulties with their vision as an early symptom of MS. These problems may include double vision, pain, and partial vision loss in one eye, according to the Merck Manual. Some people may also experience blurred vision as another early symptom of MS, notes eMedTV.
Bladder Control Problems
A person may find that they have difficulty controlling their bladder, and may lose the ability to prevent urine from leaking out of the urethra.
Vertigo
Vertigo, a sensation of spinning or a feeling that everything else is spinning around, is another possible early symptom of MS, notes the Merck Manual.
Mood Shifts
A person may experience unmotivated mild changes in mood as another early MS symptom. This symptom may translate into a noticeable sign that others might observe.
Relapses and the Effect of Heat
Especially in the early stages of MS, many people will enjoy periods when the symptoms disappear. An increase in body temperature for any reason, be it warm weather, a fever or a hot bath, may temporarily trigger or increase the severity of the symptoms of MS, says MayoClinic.com.
