From the Guidelines
The initial symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) typically include fatigue, numbness or tingling in limbs, vision problems, muscle weakness, balance and coordination difficulties, and cognitive changes, as reported in the most recent study 1. These symptoms can vary widely and often appear between ages 20-40, making early diagnosis challenging. Some common initial symptoms of MS include:
- Sensory disturbances like pins and needles sensations or areas of skin that feel numb
- Vision problems, such as blurred vision or double vision, including partial vision loss, pain during eye movement, or prolonged double vision
- Muscle weakness
- Balance and coordination difficulties
- Cognitive changes
- Difficulty with walking
- Slurred speech
- Unexplained dizziness
- Bladder and bowel dysfunction It is essential to note that these symptoms can disappear temporarily, following a relapse and remission pattern, as MS causes inflammation and damage to the protective myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord, disrupting normal nerve signal transmission 1. If experiencing these symptoms, especially if they persist or recur, medical evaluation is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment, as emphasized in the study 1. A diagnosis of MS is typically made based on a combination of clinical and paraclinical evidence, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, which can help identify lesions in the brain and spinal cord characteristic of MS 1. Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly impact the quality of life and morbidity of patients with MS, highlighting the importance of prompt medical evaluation and accurate diagnosis 1.
From the Research
Initial Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
The initial symptoms of MS can vary widely among individuals, but common symptoms include:
- Discrete episodes of numbness, tingling, weakness, vision loss, gait impairment, incoordination, imbalance, and bladder dysfunction 2
- Vision problems, such as optic neuritis, double vision, and nystagmus 3, 4
- Fatigue and heat sensitivity 2, 5
- Balance difficulties and problems with coordination 2, 6, 5
- Urinary symptoms, such as urgency and constipation 6, 5
Common Initial Symptoms
Some studies have identified the most common initial symptoms of MS, including:
- Vision changes, with 70% of patients experiencing eye complaints as their initial symptom 6
- Numbness, tingling, and weakness 2, 5
- Balance problems and difficulty with coordination 6, 5
- Fatigue and heat intolerance 5
Symptom Co-Occurrence
Research has also shown that symptoms of MS often co-occur, or happen in combination with one another 5. Common symptom co-occurrences include: