What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)?
MS affects normal sensation, thinking and movement. Symptoms vary from person to person, depending on the area of the body where the myelin sheath is damaged. Symptoms of MS may come and go. Flare-ups may last for days, weeks or months. After an episode, your symptoms may disappear for a while (go into remission), but scars can form and permanently affect nerves in that area.
Common symptoms include:
- Vision problems, including double vision, blurriness, partial color blindness, eye pain, partial or complete loss of vision in one eye
- Thinking and memory problems
- Muscle weakness, dizziness or tremor
- Numbness or weakness on one side or the bottom half of your body
- Trouble with coordination and balance
- Loss of bowel or bladder control
- Sensations such as numbness or tingling, "pins and needles"
- Electric-shock sensations caused by moving your head in a certain way
Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff