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You are here : Healthopedia.com > Medical Encyclopedia > Diseases and Conditions > Multiple Sclerosis: Symptoms & Signs
      Category : Health Centers > Brain and Nervous System

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis | Symptoms & Signs | Diagnosis & Tests | Prevention & Expectations | Treatment & Monitoring | Pictures and Images | Attribution


What are the signs and symptoms of the disease?

The symptoms are varied, depending on which nerves are affected. Early signs of MS may be subtle and can include:

  • dizziness and loss of balance
  • fatigue
  • hand or leg weakness
  • inflammation of nerves in the eye
  • localized tingling or numbness
  • a stabbing pain in the face
  • visual impairments, including blurred or double vision
  • As the disease gets worse, other symptoms may develop, such as:

  • bowel and bladder problems
  • chronic pain, such as back and muscle pain
  • depression
  • muscle spasms, which can be quite painful
  • paralysis
  • sexual dysfunction
  • slurred speech and difficulty swallowing
  • trouble with thinking and memory
  • visual loss, including blindness
  • In a mild case of multiple sclerosis, the symptoms may be so subtle that others cannot even tell that anything is wrong. When the disease progresses and is severe, the person can become quite disabled. He or she may lose the ability to walk and take care of himself or herself.


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    Multiple Sclerosis: Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

     

    Multiple Sclerosis: Diagnosis & Tests

    Author: Gerald C. McIntosh, MD
    Reviewer: Eileen McLaughlin, RN, BSN
    Date Reviewed: 08/27/01









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