Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Check Your Symptoms and Signs
Posted: August 20, 2015 at 5:51 pm
Symptom Checker: Symptoms & Signs Index
Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stppler, MD
Multiple sclerosis symptoms vary widely, and a description of "typical" symptoms is difficult. All the symptoms involve changes in neurologic functioning, but there are striking differences among patients in the type, severity, and frequency of these symptoms. Different disease patterns such as relapsing-remitting (RR), primary-progressive (PP), secondary-progressive (SP), and progressive-relapsing (PR) classify the condition according to the development and progression of symptoms over time. Relapsing-remitting (RR) multiple sclerosis is the most common type, in which symptoms (exacerbations of the condition) are followed by periods of time with reduced or no symptoms. These relatively symptom-free periods, known as remissions, can last for days or for many years.
Some cases of multiple sclerosis are so mild that the condition is difficult to diagnose. In other cases, there is a gradual decline in functioning through the years. In very rare cases, symptoms can be so severe and rapidly progressing as to be fatal within a short time (known as malignant or fulminant MS). Symptoms can be related to one body part or may involve multiple areas of the body. They may be of short duration or may persist for a long time. Some symptoms of multiple sclerosis are mild and cause inconvenience; others may be severe and debilitating.
Visual disturbances can be the first sign of MS. The vision changes can include blurred vision, distortions, or loss of vision in one eye. The vision symptoms can be accompanied by eye pain. Other symptoms can include tingling, numbness, prickling pain, or muscle spasms in the arms and legs that may occur at one or multiple sites. Weakness in the arm and leg muscles may occur, and this can sometimes affect balance and posture, causing clumsiness or lack of coordination. Other symptoms include fatigue, dizziness, difficulties with speech, tremors, heat intolerance, and loss of sensation. Sexual dysfunction and loss of bladder or bowel control can develop in more serious cases.
Mental changes can also occur as symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Memory loss, decreased ability to concentrate, attention deficits, an inability to perform sequential tasks, and changes in judgment have all been reported. Depression, mania, paranoia, and uncontrollable urges to laugh or weep are other symptoms that have been described.
Summary of Common MS Symptoms by MedicineNet Staff A review of our Patient Comments indicated that many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) have similar symptoms. Many patients said that they were in their 40s when their symptoms began. Optic neuritis was often the first MS symptom that people experienced. Initial symptoms also included numbness in the arms, feet, hands, and face, coupled with fatigue, dizziness, and difficulty walking. Several people also reported losing their balance and falling down, while others mentioned feeling a prickly heat sensation in their legs. Read on to learn more about MS symptoms in our Patient Comments.
Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 4/8/2015
REFERENCE:
Luzzio, Christopher. "Multiple Sclerosis." Medscape.com. Nov. 24, 2014. <http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1146199-overview>.
See more here:
Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Check Your Symptoms and Signs
- Stem Cell Treatment For MS Working Wonders - Video [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2014] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2014]
- Advancing Toward Multiple Sclerosis Therapies Using Stem Cells - Video [Last Updated On: May 16th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 16th, 2014]
- Stem cell treatment Multiple Sclerosis - Video [Last Updated On: May 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 17th, 2014]
- Multiple Sclerosis Treatment through Stem Cells - Video [Last Updated On: May 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: May 21st, 2014]
- New stem cells may help in battling multiple sclerosis [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2014]
- hES-MSC treat multiple sclerosis mouse - Video [Last Updated On: June 6th, 2014] [Originally Added On: June 6th, 2014]
- Stem Cell Treatment for Multiple Sclerosis - Video [Last Updated On: September 17th, 2014] [Originally Added On: September 17th, 2014]
- Stem Cell Treatment | Multiple Sclerosis | www.stemrx.in - Video [Last Updated On: October 21st, 2014] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2014]
- Stem Cell Research & Therapy Explained - From MS to Spinal Injury - Video [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2014]
- Clinical Trials for MS and Rheumatoid Arthritis with Umbilical Cord Mesenchymal Stem Cells - Video [Last Updated On: November 26th, 2014] [Originally Added On: November 26th, 2014]
- Hunt after cure for MS disease [Last Updated On: December 22nd, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 22nd, 2014]
- Report on remission in patients with MS three years after stem cell transplant [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2014]
- Stopping Multiple Sclerosis with Stem Cell Transplants [Last Updated On: December 30th, 2014] [Originally Added On: December 30th, 2014]
- Stem cell treatment for Multiple Sclerosis - Case study - Video [Last Updated On: January 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 5th, 2015]
- Researchers Reduce MS Disability With Stem Cells [Last Updated On: January 21st, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 21st, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis Stem Cell Treatment - Patient Testimonial - Video [Last Updated On: January 23rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 23rd, 2015]
- New MS Treatment - Big Hope from Little Cells - Video [Last Updated On: January 24th, 2015] [Originally Added On: January 24th, 2015]
- Stem cells reduce MS brain damage [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Stem Cell Transplants May Work Better than Existing Drug for Severe Multiple Sclerosis [Last Updated On: February 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 12th, 2015]
- Woman swears by Multiple Sclerosis remedy [Last Updated On: February 25th, 2015] [Originally Added On: February 25th, 2015]
- From chick to bedside: Removing the Wnt barrier [Last Updated On: March 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 5th, 2015]
- 21-year-old MS sufferer: 'I feel like my life is on hold' [Last Updated On: March 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 13th, 2015]
- Caldwell resident fighting battle with multiple sclerosis [Last Updated On: March 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 13th, 2015]
- Stemedix Patient Experience - Debra F. Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS) - Video [Last Updated On: March 23rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 23rd, 2015]
- Multiple sclerosis treatment on the cards for Ilfracombe mother [Last Updated On: March 25th, 2015] [Originally Added On: March 25th, 2015]
- Experimental multiple sclerosis therapy stops disease in its tracks [Last Updated On: April 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: April 13th, 2015]
- Stem Cell Treatment #5 for Multiple Sclerosis - Video [Last Updated On: April 30th, 2015] [Originally Added On: April 30th, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis. Medical information about MS | Patient [Last Updated On: June 13th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis - Symptoms, Causes, Treatments [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2015] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatments and ... [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2015]
- Multiple sclerosis - Genetics Home Reference [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2015]
- Medical Xpress - multiple sclerosis [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2015]
- multiple sclerosis (MS) | pathology | Britannica.com [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis News Topix [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2015]
- Multiple sclerosis | University of Maryland Medical Center [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis - Lab Tests Online [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis, Causes, Tests, Diagnosis & Treatment [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis | Overview [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis Causes, Symptoms, Treatment - When to ... [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2015]
- 13 Early Signs & Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Overview - HealthCommunities.com [Last Updated On: August 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 20th, 2015]
- All About Multiple Sclerosis : MS news and information on ... [Last Updated On: August 29th, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 29th, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis | GreenMedInfo | Disease | Natural Medicine [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis - KidsHealth [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2015]
- Low Vitamin D Tied to Multiple Sclerosis [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2015]
- Multiple sclerosis - MedlinePlus [Last Updated On: September 5th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 5th, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis Pictures: MS Brain Lesions, Symptoms ... [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2015]
- Multiple sclerosis signs and symptoms - Wikipedia, the ... [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis News -- ScienceDaily [Last Updated On: September 10th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 10th, 2015]
- Multiple sclerosis - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia [Last Updated On: September 15th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 15th, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis - MidMichigan Health [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2015]
- Multiple Sclerosis | University of Michigan Health System [Last Updated On: September 27th, 2015] [Originally Added On: September 27th, 2015]
- Buffalo NY Neurologist Doctors - Multiple Sclerosis (MS ... [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2015]
- Pittsburgh PA Neurologist Doctors - Multiple Sclerosis (MS ... [Last Updated On: October 20th, 2015] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2015]
- Most Common Multiple Sclerosis Treatments [Last Updated On: March 21st, 2018] [Originally Added On: March 21st, 2018]