In the United States, women between the ages of 20 and 40 are at the highest risk of developing a progressive nerve degradation disease called multiple sclerosis, or MS, according to the Merck Manual, an online medical encyclopedia. Though there is currently no cure for MS, prompt detection of the early symptoms of MS can allow patients to take advantage of treatment options that can slow the progression of MS.
Vision Alterations
Approximately half of patients develop vision changes as an early symptom of MS, according to medical experts at the University of Maryland Medical Center. These vision changes arise due to inflammation of the optic nerve, a symptom referred to as optic neuritis. Affected patients can experience blurred or cloudy vision within one or both eyes. Vision alterations during the early stages of MS can significantly impact a patient's ability to drive or move about without assistance.
Fatigue
The most common early symptom of MS is fatigue and affects nearly 80 percent of patients, according to health professionals with the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. Fatigue symptoms due to MS can be debilitating and may be most apparent during the late afternoon. Affected patients may need to take frequent naps throughout the day to remain alert and energized.
Numbness and Tingling
Nerve damage experienced by patients with MS can result in sensations of numbness and tingling throughout the body. These sensations typically originate within the upper portion of the legs or arms and can radiate into the feet or hands, explains the Merck Manual. Uncomfortable numbness or tingling sensations can occur sporadically, and typically become worse as MS progresses.
Muscle Spasms or Weakness
Patients with MS experience progressive nerve damage that can prevent the transmission of signals to the muscles. As a result, patients can develop unusual, involuntary muscle spasms or weakness as early symptoms of MS, explains MedlinePlus, a medical information website supported by the National Institutes of Health. Additionally, the affected body regions can begin to shake or tremor abnormally. These early symptoms of MS can be painful, which can make it difficult for patients to move the affected muscles normally.
Poor Coordination or Balance
Muscle weakness or spasms can contribute to coordination or balance problems in patients with MS. Affected patients can exhibit difficulty standing or moving about normally and may have troubling lifting or holding certain items, warns the University of Maryland Medical Center. As this disease progresses, patients with MS can become partially or completely paralyzed and may require a wheelchair to move about on their own.
