Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a devastating disease where the immune cells of your body break down myelin, the protective covering around your nerves. Myelin protects the signal that goes through your nerves and speeds up its transmission. According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) in 2009, 400,000 people have been diagnosed with MS in the U.S., and 200 new cases are diagnosed each week. In addition, NMSS reports that MS is more common in women between the ages of 20 to 50. If you are experiencing abnormal neurological symptoms, see your doctor for diagnosis and treatment.
Numbness and Weakness
According to the Mayo Clinic, numbness and weakness in your arms or legs that occurs either on one side or the bottom half of your body is common in MS. This occurs because myelin can break down in the part of your brain that is responsible for sensation and strength. Because there is no myelin, neural signals going to and from your arms and legs are impaired.
Vision Problems
Partial or complete vision loss that often occurs in one eye at a time, double vision, blurry vision and pain with eye movement are common symptoms of MS, according to the Mayo Clinic. These symptoms occur because your immune cells are attacking the myelin that surrounds the nerves that receive vision and control eye movements.
Pain
Pain and shock-like sensations are also common symptoms of MS, according to the Mayo Clinic. Pain can occur in all parts of the body and can be severe. Shock-like sensations can occur when moving the head. These symptoms are caused by immune cells destroying the myelin around nerve fibers that carry pain and sensation signals.
