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Multiple sclerosis is a progressive autoimmune disorder where the protective coverings to nerve cells are damaged, causing diminished function in the brain and spinal column. In essence, the part of your body that keeps you healthy attacks parts important to your everyday function.
The most common early signs of multiple sclerosis are vision problems, clinically called optic neuritis. Inflammation affects the optic nerve and disrupts a person’s central vision. This can lead to blurred vision in one or both eyes, double vision, or loss of contrast or vivid colors.
Because MS affects nerves in the brain and spinal column (the body’s message center), it can send conflicting signals around the body. Sometimes, no signals are sent, which results in the most common symptom, numbness. Common sites of numbness include the face, arms, legs, and fingers. Tingling sensations and numbness are the most common warning signs of MS.
Muscle stiffness or spasms are also common and involve feelings of stiff muscles or joints as well as uncontrollable, painful jerking movements of extremities. The legs are most often affected, but back pain is also common.
Chronic fatigue occurs when nerves deteriorate in the spinal column. Usually, the fatigue appears suddenly and lasts for weeks before improving. At first, the weakness is most noticeable in the legs.
Dizziness and problems with coordination and balance are among the most common mobility problems for people with MS. The disease can prevent freedom of movement because people often feel lightheaded, dizzy, or as if their surroundings are spinning (vertigo). It often occurs when a person stands up.
A dysfunctional bladder occurs in up to 80 percent of people with MS. This can include urinating frequently, strong urges to urinate, or inability to hold in urine, whether during the day or night.
About half of the people with MS will develop some kind of hindrance to their cognitive function. This can include:
Depression and other emotional health problems are common. Some of these include insomnia, irritability, and a condition called pseudobulbar affect—bouts of uncontrollable crying and laughing.
To diagnose MS, a doctor—most likely a neurologist—will perform several tests including:
The most common early signs of multiple sclerosis are vision problems, clinically called optic neuritis. Inflammation affects the optic nerve and disrupts a person’s central vision. This can lead to blurred vision in one or both eyes, double vision, or loss of contrast or vivid colors.
Because MS affects nerves in the brain and spinal column (the body’s message center), it can send conflicting signals around the body. Sometimes, no signals are sent, which results in the most common symptom, numbness. Common sites of numbness include the face, arms, legs, and fingers. Tingling sensations and numbness are the most common warning signs of MS.
Muscle stiffness or spasms are also common and involve feelings of stiff muscles or joints as well as uncontrollable, painful jerking movements of extremities. The legs are most often affected, but back pain is also common.
Chronic fatigue occurs when nerves deteriorate in the spinal column. Usually, the fatigue appears suddenly and lasts for weeks before improving. At first, the weakness is most noticeable in the legs.
Dizziness and problems with coordination and balance are among the most common mobility problems for people with MS. The disease can prevent freedom of movement because people often feel lightheaded, dizzy, or as if their surroundings are spinning (vertigo). It often occurs when a person stands up.
A dysfunctional bladder occurs in up to 80 percent of people with MS. This can include urinating frequently, strong urges to urinate, or inability to hold in urine, whether during the day or night.
About half of the people with MS will develop some kind of hindrance to their cognitive function. This can include:
- memory problems
- shortened attention span
- language problems
- difficulty staying organized
Depression and other emotional health problems are common. Some of these include insomnia, irritability, and a condition called pseudobulbar affect—bouts of uncontrollable crying and laughing.
To diagnose MS, a doctor—most likely a neurologist—will perform several tests including:
- a neurological exam, which checks for reduced nerve function
- an eye exam, which checks for distortions in the inner eye and response times
- a spinal tap, in which a sample of spinal fluid is removed with a long needle and tested
