The National Institutes of Health (NIH) defines MS, or multiple sclerosis, as an autoimmune disorder caused by damage to the myelin shealth. Myelin is the protective covering on the neuron, which also helps with electrical signals being sent in the brain. As a result, normal communication isn't sent from the brain to the rest of the body. The age of onset for MS is between ages 20 and 40, with women developing the disease more often than men. The symptoms of MS are not continuous: They appear in episodes, which can last from days to months.
Sensation Changes
One of the onset symptoms of MS is a change in sensation. The Mayo Clinic says patients can experience numbness, which occurs on one side of the body or the lower half of the body. Muscle weakness can also happen on the same areas of the body. When the patient turns her head, she may have an "electric-shock sensation," according to the Mayo Clinic. Tingling and pain in the patient's limbs are also common symptoms. The NIH says patients can also have pain in the face.
Balance and Movement Issues
The patient's muscles are also affected, resulting in balance and movement issues. The Mayo Clinic says patients can have tremors (an involuntary muscle movement), an unsteady gait and lack of coordination. The NIH adds that these muscular problems cause problems walking and moving limbs.
Vision Problems
The Mayo Clinic says patients may have partial or complete loss of vision. However, this particular vision problem occurs in one eye at a time. Other vision problems associated with MS are double vision and blurred vision. These vision problems occur only when the patient has MS episodes; the patient does not experience them during remissions.
