People with multiple sclerosis (MS) are likely to experience a wide range of symptoms, as MS affects individuals differently, but three common ones are fatigue, numbness and tingling, and muscle weakness or spasms [1].
Symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS)
Some of the most common symptoms include: feeling extremely tired (fatigue) problems with your eyes or your vision, such as blurred vision or eye pain. numbness or a tingling feeling in different parts of the body.
Five common signs of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) include vision problems (like blurred or double vision), numbness or tingling, fatigue, balance/coordination issues, and muscle weakness or spasms, though symptoms vary widely, can come and go, and affect different people in unique ways, including bladder/bowel issues, pain, and cognitive changes.
The Four Stages of Multiple Sclerosis
What are the early symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
Symptoms of advanced MS
One of the more obvious first signs of MS is a problem with vision, known as optic neuritis. This is often because it's a more concrete symptom as opposed to vaguer neurological symptoms like numbness and tingling.
However, triggers that may provoke or worsen a multiple sclerosis attack include:
For those with MS, avoiding too much exercise is a big concern. Too much activity can cause fatigue and worsen symptoms. It's important to listen to your body and know when you've done too much. Pacing activities and taking breaks helps manage energy.
These “invisible” symptoms can include fatigue, pain, cognitive challenges, mood changes, numbness or tingling, heat sensitivity, vision changes, balance and coordination problems, and bladder and bowel control issues.
Other more advanced symptoms include hand weakness, wrist drop (difficulty raising hand), curling fingers, poor sensation. You may notice that you drop items or have difficulty gauging how to pick up an item.
The 'MS hug' is symptom of MS that feels like an uncomfortable, sometimes painful feeling of tightness or pressure, usually around your stomach or chest. The pain or tightness can feel like a tight band stretching under your breasts, around the ribs and back or stomach, or it can be just on one side.
The most common first symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) often involve vision problems (like optic neuritis with blurred/double vision) or sensory issues (numbness, tingling, pins-and-needles), though fatigue, balance issues, and difficulty walking are also frequent early signs, as MS symptoms vary widely. Optic neuritis, inflammation of the optic nerve, is a particularly common initial presentation because it's a more concrete symptom, often involving pain with eye movement and faded color vision (especially red).
A wide range of conditions can be mistaken for MS, including: migraine, cerebral small vessel disease, fibromyalgia, functional neurological disorders, and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders, along with uncommon inflammatory, infectious and metabolic conditions (1, 3).
Some people with MS lose sensation in their tongue. Some health care providers refer to MS-related tongue issues as “MS tongue.” Loss of sensation or numbness can make it difficult to move your tongue when you speak, chew, or swallow. Tongue numbness may also diminish sense of taste.
The exact cause of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is unknown, but it's triggered by a combination of genetic susceptibility, environmental factors (like low Vitamin D, infections, smoking, and stress), and immune system dysfunction that leads the body to attack its own nervous system. Triggers that can worsen existing MS include heat, infections, stress, lack of sleep, and childbirth, while factors like smoking, obesity, and low sun exposure increase risk or severity.
Supplements that boost your immune response — for instance, selenium, copper, and manganese — may worsen autoimmune attacks in MS. Large doses of vitamin E and vitamin C can thin your blood, which may lead to MS complications. Single supplements can contain high doses, making them potentially more dangerous.
For many, fatigue is considered to be the single most debilitating symptom, surpassing pain and even physical disability. Fatigue also imposes significant socioeconomic consequences, including loss of work hours and in some instances, loss of employment.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the CNS that results from the interplay between heritable and environmental factors. Mounting evidence from different fields of research supports the pivotal role of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the development of multiple sclerosis.
You cannot test yourself for MS at home. Medical professionals and equipment are needed for an accurate diagnosis. However, tracking and recording your symptoms can help doctors understand what you are experiencing and the conditions that may be linked.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and cetirizine (Zyrtec), are commonly used to manage allergies. However, these drugs can also make some MS-related symptoms worse.
Invisible symptoms of MS – fatigue, pain, blurred vision, numbness, and brain fog – which often go unnoticed by other people, can also interfere with daily functioning and be just as debilitating.
MS can damage the nerves in your spinal cord or brain that control your muscles. That can cause painful muscle spasms. Nerve pain can also cause painful or unusual sensations on the skin. These types of pain can happen anywhere but are usually in the face, arms and legs.
Numbness of the face, body, arms or legs is one of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis. It might have been the first MS symptom you experienced. You may notice that you have less feeling when touching something with your hand.