MS is a complicated illness and it has many different symptoms. The majority of people won’t experience all MS symptoms, and definitely not at the same time. There are also other diseases with symptoms that are very similar to MS symptoms.
MS can cause a wide range of symptoms, and there is no definitive list of early signs. What could be a first symptom for one person may never be experienced by another.
People with MS have different symptoms at different stages and there is no particular pattern of symptoms that applies to everyone, although some are more common than others.
Here is a brief list of a range of MS symptoms you may experience:
- Optic neuritis, a vision problem, is a more obvious early symptom, and this is usually because it is a more easily diagnosed symptom compared to neurological symptoms such as tingling or numbness.
- Problems with balance, walking and dizziness are very common in MS. As with all MS symptoms they affect people in different ways, and chance on a daily basis.
- Many people with MS suffer with bladder problems, but these can usually be managed very well.
- Some people with MS will never have any bowel problems, but constipation and bowel incontinence does affect some people at some stage of MS.
- Vision problems do tend to be a feature of some people’s MS symptoms. Common ones are blurring of vision, temporary vision loss, double vision, or incorrect coordination between the two eyes. People’s vision can also change according to the time of day or the environment and surroundings.
- Fatigue is a kind of overwhelming tiredness and counts as one of the most common MS symptoms.
Some people say fatigue is the symptom that affects them the most, but there are methods that can help you manage it and minimize its effects on your day to day life.
Read part two of this article for more information on MS Symptoms.