Early warning signs that you might have MS
- Written by News Company
Multiple Sclerosis is a condition of which people are increasingly becoming aware. That is not to say that it hasn’t been around for a long time, but it is now certainly much more recognizable and more readily diagnosed by doctors than it was thirty years ago. As a result of this, there are more people who acknowledge that they are living with the condition and there are more support groups for it as well. It also means that it is more readily spotted and therefore can be treated or reacted to earlier. But what are the signs of Multiple Sclerosis? What signs need to be exhibited in order to think that you might be living with the condition? Here are a few tell-tales that you should look out for:
Eyesight
Because MS happens when the body attacks the lining of its own nerve cells, one of the early signs of multiple sclerosis is often the deterioration of the eyesight or visual problems. This is due to the deterioration of the optic nerve. Issues can include double vision or blurred eyesight. At its worst, it could lead to blindness, but this would certainly not be an early indicator – it would be something severe and with the disease well progressed.
Peripheral nerve damage
Outlying nerves might no longer be able to send messages back to the brain or operate properly. This translates into things like pins and needles, tingling or numbness at the extremities – fingers and toes, hands and face. If you notice this get it looked at immediately. In short, though, the peripheral nerves have been damaged, and this is how the symptoms manifest.
General fatigue
If you feel tired for no discernible reason it could well be down to the onset of MS. Usually, this fatigue or malaise is the result of deterioration in the spinal cord. It results in weeks of unexplained tiredness that will eventually wear off. This is one of the most common signs of early MS with 80% of all people diagnosed with the condition saying it was something that they experienced.
Bladder issues
If you constantly feel the urge to urinate or you have an inability to hold in your urine, then you could well be a suffered from MS. As with the fatigue described above, a huge percentage of all MS sufferers cite bladder issues amongst their early symptom of the disease. These issues occur largely due to the fact that the nerves carry messages between the brain and bladder are not working properly.
Mental function
There are several ways in which the brain can be negatively affected by MS. These include memory issues, attention span problems and sometimes even problems with language – like finding the right words or even remembering words and being able to use them in sentences. There can also be issues like depression or other more serious personality disorders, but these too only manifest further along in the MS journey – the other signs are spotted earlier.