The early signs of MS can manifest many years before someone is actually diagnosed with having Multiple Sclerosis. These symptoms can come and go over time as well, making it difficult to know whether or not they are connected to an infection or temporary illness instead of MS. Some signs do stand out more than others as symptoms of MS, especially if they are all experienced at the same time.
Signs of MS early on in men include many similar to those felt by women; tingling, numbness, blurred vision, weakness in limbs, or loss of balance. Less common symptoms might be cognitive difficulties, sudden paralysis of limbs, lack of coordination, or slurred speech. Men tend to believe a decrease in vision is due to getting older, but a sudden onset can easily be linked to MS. Most active men ignore numbness and tingling sensations when they come and go because they attribute these symptoms to being overworked and tired. These symptoms should definitely be checked out by a doctor if they worsen or don’t subside.
Besides the very early signs of MS mentioned above, a large number of men with MS experience erectile dysfunction. In fact, the percentage of men who experience a loss of libido or sensation in the genitalia is at a high of 75. This high percentage is due to not only the symptoms of MS, but also to certain medications used to treat MS symptoms. Both papaverine and alprostadil have shown to decrease the occurrence of ED in men with MS.
Paralysis and memory loss are just two of the later MS symptoms men might experience. Also, even though women are diagnosed with MS twice as often as men are, men have the ability to pass this disease on to their children.
What are the Early Signs of MS in Women?
Women who are diagnosed with MS tend to have similar complaints to those men have mentioned. Tingling and burning, changes in vision, a sensation of electric shock, and a loss of strength are among the most common signs of early signs of MS disease in women. The tingling and burning sensations materialize in a specific location, as opposed to all over the entire body. Numbness might also arise before the burning or tingling sensation.
Blurry or double vision can develop in one or both eyes and is generally more severe when looking forward. The eye in which the vision is impaired may also hurt when moved from side to side. The loss of strength is noticed most often in the hands; dropping items or feeling clumsy isn’t uncommon during the early signs of MS. This lack of strength can also appear in the feet and legs. Occasionally a cane or a walker may be necessary to aid in mobility.
