Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex neurological condition that is difficult to diagnose. Some patients go for years before a diagnosis is confirmed. The nerves that carry signals throughout your body are protected by a fatty covering called myelin. For reasons not well understood, when you have multiple sclerosis, your body attacks and damages the myelin. This disrupts the transmission of nerve signals in the body. One of the difficulties is that MS affects each person very differently. The symptoms experienced and the rate and severity of this disease are often unpredictable. However, being aware of any symptoms, as well as understanding what makes them worse and what makes them better, will help you to play an active role in your care.
Onset
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke state that MS usually begins with a "series of attacks followed by complete or partial remissions as symptoms mysteriously lessen, only to return later after a period of stability." However, in some cases, there is no remission after the first attack. Initial multiple sclerosis attacks can be mild or severe, long term or come in short bouts. The NINDS goes on to claim, "The initial symptom of MS is often blurred or double vision, red-green color distortion, or even blindness in one eye." This visual disturbance may or may not present itself with the common early symptoms of MS listed below.
Common Early Symptoms
Multiple sclerosis can cause numbness in your face, arms and legs. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, numbness in these areas "is often the first symptom experienced by those eventually diagnosed as having MS." If the numbness affects your legs, you may have difficulty walking and maintaining your balance. You may also lose muscle coordination and experience weakness.
Additional Symptoms
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society states that fatigue is the most common and prominent symptom in those with MS. It is an unusual fatigue that can interfere with work, family life and hobbies. Other symptoms that might be present in the initial stages of MS include dizzy spells and trouble concentrating, organizing, planning and problem-solving. You may also feel depressed, experience mood swings, become irritable and have bladder and bowel dysfunction.
Other Symptoms
Early on in the course of multiple sclerosis, you may develop muscle pain and spasticity, which is uncontrolled muscle spasms. Your muscles may just feel tight and be mildly painful, or the spasms can be severe. If you have MS, spasticity is most common in the muscles of the legs. The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America claims that one telltale sign of this disease is that your symptoms tend to become worse when you are exposed to heat but get better when exposed to coolness.
