Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks your central nervous system, thus affecting your brain, spinal cord, or your optic nerves. While symptoms of this disease can come and go without warning, they can vary in intensity but will progressively worsen over time. The early signs and symptoms of multiple sclerosis are often hard to detect because they are initially very mild. In many cases they are hardly noticeable. According to one study, many who were diagnosed with the disease went an average of 7 years before they realized that something was wrong.
Still, if you know what you're looking for there are signs that should encourage you to be tested for this disease. The sooner the treatment is started the better your chances of slowing down its progression and maintaining a normal lifestyle.
1.) Vision Problems
One of the first indications that you might have multiple sclerosis is an onset of vision problems. Because the disease causes inflammation around the optic nerve, a condition called optic neuritis, the eyesight may falter. In multiple sclerosis, the condition usually affects only one eye causing blurry vision, a dullness of color, and pain when you move the eye.
The condition will appear for a few weeks or even several months and then suddenly go away. When it returns you may also experience double vision or involuntary eye movements.
2.) Numbness And Tingling
Strange sensations in the body are also indications that you may be experiencing early symptoms of multiple sclerosis. These sensations may come in two forms. When the brain fails to send signals to certain parts of the body, you might get a numbing feeling that is almost like paralysis. You may also feel an over abundance of sensations as the brain starts sending mixed signals to the body resulting in a tingly feeling. It could feel like an electric shock or severe itching in certain areas.
3.) Fatigue
Extreme fatigue is common among those who have the disease. You may tire easily and feel utterly exhausted even if you haven't been very active. Some even complain of exhaustion as soon as they wake up in the morning, and getting out of bed may feel like it is too much.
4.) Problems Walking
Because the brain affects the central nervous system and the brain's ability to communicate with the rest of the body, it can lead to poor coordination and the inability to control your movements. This can cause you to struggle to walk a straight line, keep your balance, or to maintain your usual gait.
There are several other early symptoms of multiple sclerosis that you may need to be aware of. Some patients complain of a perpetual brain fog, depression, bladder and bowel problems, and feelings of vertigo. It is easy to see how many of these conditions, usually mild when the disease first appears can be reasoned off as something else but if you experience any of these problems, especially if they come and go without warning, it is important to see your doctor and get tested for multiple sclerosis. Your doctor will be able to determine what is the cause for the symptoms and rule out the disease if possible. If not, you can start treatment early so that you can slow down the progression of the disease and keep a normal way of life.