According to MedlinePlus, a service of the National Institutes of Health, multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the nerves in the brain and the spinal cord. Specifically, the body's immune system attacks the myelin sheath, or protective covering, over the nerves in the central nervous system. Multiple sclerosis occurs more often in women than in men and most commonly affects those between the ages of 20 and 40. Multiple sclerosis is a disease that worsens over time, so prompt treatment is necessary to slow progression and prevent further complications. In addition to the common symptoms of multiple sclerosis, a patient should also be aware of the unusual presentations.
Eye Pain
According to MayoClinic.com, an unusual symptom of multiple sclerosis is eye pain. Eye pain may occur in one or both eyes and may wax or wane with the progression of multiple sclerosis. This occurs because sensory nerves from the eye to the brain are damaged in multiple sclerosis, which causes the patient to experience severe eye pain. The patient should be aware that eye pain, or optic neuritis, is one of the first signs of multiple sclerosis. The patient, therefore, should not hesitate to schedule an appointment with his doctor for the proper assessment and treatment of eye pain.
Hearing Loss
A patient with multiple sclerosis may experience hearing loss as an unusual symptom of the disease, states MedlinePlus. This occurs because nerves that sense hearing can be damaged in multiple sclerosis. This may cause the patient to lose hearing in one or both ears, and the degree of hearing loss may differ in each ear. In this case, the patient should be sure to tell her doctor of this unusual MS symptom so the necessary treatment can be initiated.
Difficulty Swallowing
A more severe unusual symptom of multiple sclerosis is difficulty swallowing, states MayoClinic.com. A patient with MS might have difficulty swallowing because the nerves that control this action may be damaged by the autoimmune disease. This is a serious complication because a patient may inhale, or aspirate, foods that he is having difficulty eating. Because aspiration can result in pneumonia or other serious lung complications, a patient who is experiencing difficulty swallowing should seek immediate emergency medical treatment. In some cases, assistive eating devices may be necessary to keep the patient well nourished.
