MS characteristics consist of certain symptoms, which may come and go for years at a time. The long list of Multiple Sclerosis characteristics can be divided into 3 categories of symptoms. When the demyelination process begins, primary symptoms appear. These are created when the sheath is damaged on the outside of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms in this group include, tingling, numbness, bowel problems, loss of bladder control, weakness in limbs, loss of balance, muscle spasms, and impaired vision. A myriad of medications are able to be taken to help lessen the severity and make these symptoms more manageable.
Primary symptoms often lead to secondary symptoms. For instance, the initial symptom of paralysis can lead to bedsores. Or, loss of bladder control can lead to a constant battle with urinary tract infections. Any complications from either primary or secondary symptoms cause tertiary symptoms. These generally come in the form of vocational, social, or psychological problems, such as depression.
All symptoms are caused by the damage done to the outer sheath of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. In people with MS, the immune system attacks nerve cells and causes what is known as demyelination.
Progressive Signs of MS to be Aware of
Less common signs of MS can include cognitive difficulties, slurred speech, a lack of coordination, and a sudden onset of paralysis. Besides any number of symptoms already mentioned, the severity of each one varies between individuals. The more the disease progresses, the longer the symptoms last and sometimes they increase in intensity too.
Signs the disease has moved on to a more advanced stage include changes in thinking, sexual disturbances, and intolerance to heat. The amount of fatigue felt can also increase, even after a restful night of sleep. People with MS state that feeling tired has nothing to do with the amount of physical activity they partake in, which can be extremely frustrating. Muscle spasms can become so severe that they are to the point of being debilitating.
Thinking can become impaired enough that people with advanced forms of MS find it difficult to carry out daily tasks and unable to live solely on their own. Fortunately, these extreme cases of impaired thinking only occur in about 10 percent of the MS population. Breathing problems and seizures are two rare MS characteristics experienced by some MS patients. Most Multiple Sclerosis characteristics are able to be managed through physical and drug therapies that have been approved over the years.
