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Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

Many of the early multiple sclerosis symptoms common to MS are felt long before the disease is even diagnosed. Symptoms are felt long before even realizing that something might be seriously wrong. Many MSers remember signs of multiple sclerosis way back to their teens. And some warnings are as far back as childhood. 

Earliest Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

One of the early multiple sclerosis symptoms Cir remembers happened around the time he was 16. He was taking a summer course in gun safety. He had passed the written part of the test successfully and the field test was next.

The day of the test, Cir felt a little queasy. He wondered if he was coming down with the flu. The feeling eased so that he felt well enough to go ahead with the test.

The first part of the field test was skeet shooting. Cir stood in line waiting. When he finally took his turn, he did very well. He scored around an 80 or 90.

The second part of the test involved walking across a log which lay over a creek. He had to do this while safely holding a 12-gauge shotgun. He remembered thinking - “I'm going to fall into this creek.”

In spite of a feeling of unsteadiness and imbalance, he made it safely across. He was glad the course hadn't lasted much longer. And happy that he'd passed the test.

Cir still felt bad, and went home to lie down for the rest of the day. Three days later the bad feeling and imbalance finally faded. 

Thinking back, he's pretty sure this was an early sign of multiple sclerosis. He can't remember any other major episodes or exacerbations until around age 20.

Could you be mistaken?

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis can be very similar to those of other diseases. It's best to get the opinion of a neurologist if you suspect something is wrong. Your GP or family practitioner may suspect multiple sclerosis, but a specialist can let you know for sure.

The following is a short list of some of the most common multiple sclerosis symptoms. One of these symptoms by itself doesn't mean you have MS. And some symptoms come and go. This is especially true if you have relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

For a more in depth look at each one, click on each link below. 

Symptoms 

• ataxia
• balance
• bladder problems
• bladder problems - part 2
• bladder problems - part 3
• bowel problems
• bowel problems - part 2
• brain fog
• brain fog part 2
• burning
• clonus
• cognitive problems
• decreased libido
• dementia
• depression
• depression - part 2
• diplopia
• dysfunction
• facial numbness
• fatigue
• fatigue part 2
• foot drop
• heat sensitivity
• incontinence (see bladder problems)
• lhermitte's sign
• ms hug
• muscle weakness
• myoclonus
• nerve pain
• numbness
• optic neuritis
• optic neuritis part 2
• pain
• paresthesias
• personality problems
• sensory loss
• sexual dysfunction or SD
• spasms
• spasticity
• tingling
• tremors
• vertigo
• weakness and
• weakness Part 2

There are so many MS symptoms to deal with, that symptom management usually becomes necessary early on. It's something that every MSer learns in order to function.

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