Multiple sclerosis is a progressively debilitating medical condition. To understand it better, we should consider the question, “What are the signs of multiple sclerosis?”
Multiple sclerosis tends to first appear in the age range of 20 to 40 years. The early signs of multiple sclerosis are relatively mild, but as the disease progresses, they become more pronounced. Some of the earlier signs of multiple sclerosis include blurry vision, tingling and numbness, weakness in the extremities, lack of coordination, and unsteadiness.
The warning signs of multiple sclerosis (among people who have not yet been diagnosed) tend to involve more than one bout of these and other symptoms of MS, and their subsequent resolution. This is actually consistent with MS as patients with the condition often have periods where the symptoms flare up followed by periods where those symptoms are resolved or less pronounced.
In further consideration of the question, “What are the signs of multiple sclerosis?” it is important to pay attention to the less common symptoms of MS that may present early in the development of the condition. The slurring of the patient’s speech is one such symptom. The patient may also struggle with cognition. Sudden paralysis is another one of the signs & symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
More Advanced Multiple Sclerosis Signs and Symptoms
The next question to consider is, “What are the symptoms of multiple sclerosis that present in the later stages of the condition?” With the progression of the disease, the already present symptoms worsen. In addition, the patient develops new symptoms. One such symptom is a common complaint by MS patients: fatigue. Fatigue is a particularly striking symptom because it significantly affects a patient’s capacity to be productive. The patient feels exhausted much of the time. Getting sleep does not seem to make much of a difference. Furthermore, the fatigue entails more than just drowsiness. The exhaustion is physical, affecting the patient’s muscles, and it is also mental: the patient struggles to think and to remain awake and alert.
Spasticity is yet another of the later multiple sclerosis signs. Thanks to spasticity, the muscles can go into spasm and remain that way constantly without medical intervention. A patient may consequently find that some of his or her muscles are always tight. Ultimately, this makes movement difficult. Muscles should be able to contract and relax. If they can only contract, then normal movement is inhibited.
Later stage MS is often associated with disability. What are the signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis that account for disability in many patients? Most of the symptoms of advanced MS actually fit into this category. They include exhaustion and numbness, spasticity, dizziness, impaired cognition, blurry vision or blindness, seizures, breathing difficulties and problems with speech and swallowing.
