14 hours Ago By [email protected] (Ben Hurst)
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong condition that can have a profound impact on the brain and nerves, with several warning signs to be aware of.
Inflammation can occur in parts of the brain or spinal cord, causing symptoms. It's estimated that around 130,000 people in the UK live with the condition. Affected nerve fibres can become vulnerable to damage, and over time may be lost entirely.
When this happens, messages can no longer get through and symptoms become permanent. This gradual, steady accumulation of disability is called MS progression. The NHS says MS can cause a wide range of potential symptoms, including problems with vision, arm or leg movement, sensation or balance.
Below are some of those to look out for in yourself or loved ones. Vision Problems: One of the more obvious first signs of MS is a problem with vision, known as optic neuritis where swelling damages the optic nerve. Common signs of optic neuritis include pain with eye movement and temporary loss of vision in one eye.
Optic neuritis is considered a more 'concrete symptom', as others - such as numbness and tingling - are often vague and can be attributed to a number of other causes. Fatigue: Everyone experiences tiredness, but the fatigue associated with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is often described as an overwhelming sense of exhaustion with no clear cause. The MS Society has highlighted several warning signs to look out for, such as feeling extremely tired after minimal activity, waking up as fatigued as when you went to sleep, and experiencing heavy limbs.
Tingling: Numbness and tingling are also common initial symptoms of MS, according to the NHS. These abnormal sensations can often manifest as numbness or tingling in various parts of your body, such as the arms, legs or trunk, typically spreading over a few days. The MS Society further explains that these unusual sensations, which seem to be in your skin, are caused by nerve damage.
Dizziness: Loss of balance and dizziness are common symptoms of MS, along with feelings of being 'off balance' or lightheaded. Vertigo, the sensation that you or your surroundings are spinning, is less frequently experienced. Muscle spasms: Muscle stiffness and spasms, often described as 'spasticity', are common MS symptoms.
These symptoms can affect between 40 per cent and 80 per cent of people with MS at some point. For most people, the stiffness and spasms come and go. Tremors: Tremors, neurological disorders causing shaking movements in one or more parts of your body, most often in your hands, are another symptom to watch out for, says the National Institutes of Health.
This can range from mild to severe, for example, enough to spill a full cup of drink or affect handwriting. Pain: Pain in MS can take on various forms and could be a direct result of nerve damage. Alternatively, it might stem from the symptoms and strains they impose on your body.
Such pain can feel like burning, stabbing, sharp and squeezing sensations, according to the MS Society. MS sufferers can experience both acute (a rapid onset and of short duration) neuropathic pain and chronic neuropathic pain. Acute neuropathic pain is occasionally an initial symptom of MS, or could be part of an MS relapse.
Frequent urination: Bladder problems are another common issue for those with MS. There are two main types: problems with storage and issues with emptying. The MS Society explains that when the nerve pathways in the spine are interrupted, even a small amount of urine in the bladder can cause it to contract, leading to frequent urination.
Constipation: Bowel trouble: While some will never experience such an issue, around 7 in 10 people with the condition will encounter a bowel issue at some stage - either constipation or incontinence. Memory: Memory and thinking issues, also known as 'cognitive problems', can affect people with MS, but most people will be affected mildly. Some people find it harder to find the right words, to concentrate or to recall things quickly.
For more information on the early signs of MS, visit the Multiple Sclerosis Trust here..
