Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system attacks part of the central nervous system, primarily the myelin covering that wraps around the spinal cord and nerves to help speed messages along to your brain and other parts of your body. Early diagnosis is the key to successfully managing multiple sclerosis symptoms and improving quality of life. Therefore, it’s crucial to be aware of frequent early warning signals, such as:
1. Bladder issues
Multiple sclerosis can affect the nerves responsible for bladder control, causing urinary problems. This can cause you to urinate frequently or not be able to empty the bladder fully. Overactive bladder, urinary incontinence and frequent urination are all potential symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
2. Vision problems
One of the first symptoms of multiple sclerosis that people tend to experience is problems with their vision. Their eyes may have trouble focusing on nearby objects and they may have blurred or double vision. This is because the syndrome affects your central nervous system, causing problems with eye movement and the nerves that connect to the optic nerve, which carries visual signals from the eye to the brain.
3. Tingling and numbness
MS can also attack the brain itself, causing significant damage to nerve cells. Such damage can appear anywhere in the nerve cells or the fibers surrounding your nerve cells, causing the affected nerves to either stop sending messages entirely or to send faulty messages to the muscles in your body. These faulty messages commonly result in numbness, pain, and tingling in the extremities.
4. Pains and spasms
The pain of multiple sclerosis usually occurs due to damage to the nerve fibers that carry signals from your brain and spinal cord. The pain may also be referred to as paresthesia, or numbness and tingling. Some people also say they feel like they are burning up. Others report feeling like their nerves are vibrating.
5. Weakness or fatigue
Muscle weakness is a symptom of multiple sclerosis that can be mild or severe; the number of nerve fibers damaged by your immune system determines the severity of your symptoms. The more damage that has occurred, the greater your weakness and fatigue. If you have mild symptoms, you may experience muscle weakness for brief periods during an attack. You may also experience weakness in both hands and, in some cases, have difficulty gripping things. In severe cases, this weakness is usually also associated with other neurological problems.
6. Balance problems or dizziness
Balance problems are also a common symptom of MS; they can be mild or severe depending on the level of damage to your central nervous system. A person with mild balance problems might feel awkward when walking or moving, while a person with severe damage may fall frequently.
