How do I know if I have MS or not?

People should consider the diagnosis of MS if they have one or more of these symptoms: vision loss in one or both eyes. acute paralysis in the legs or along one side of the body. acute numbness and tingling in a limb.

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How can I check myself for MS?

Signs of MS to look for include:
  1. Clinically isolated syndrome. ...
  2. Changes in energy levels. ...
  3. Changes in physical sensations. ...
  4. Vision issues. ...
  5. MS hug. ...
  6. Changes in brain function. ...
  7. Bowel and bladder dysfunction. ...
  8. Sexual dysfunction.

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What are 3 warning signs of MS?

Symptoms
  • Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs that typically occurs on one side of your body at a time.
  • Tingling.
  • Electric-shock sensations that occur with certain neck movements, especially bending the neck forward (Lhermitte sign)
  • Lack of coordination.
  • Unsteady gait or inability to walk.

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What is the number 1 symptom of MS?

Fatigue. Occurs in about 80% of people, can significantly interfere with the ability to function at home and work, and may be the most prominent symptom in a person who otherwise has minimal activity limitations.

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Are there warning signs of MS?

Although a number of MS symptoms can appear early on, two stand out as occurring more often than others: Optic neuritis, or inflammation of the optic nerve, is usually the most common, Shoemaker says. You may experience eye pain, blurred vision and headache.

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How did you find out you had Multiple Sclerosis?

36 related questions found

What are 4 early signs of MS?

There are four potential early signs of MS that shouldn't be ignored.
  • Painful vision loss in one eye. Vision problems can have many causes. ...
  • Facial paralysis. ...
  • Persistent limb weakness or numbness. ...
  • Severe, ongoing dizziness.

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What age does MS usually start?

MS can appear at any age but most commonly manifests between the ages of 20 and 40. It affects women two to three times as often as men. Almost one million people in the United States have MS, making it one of the most common causes of neurological disability among young adults in North America.

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Does MS show up in blood work?

While there are no definitive blood tests for diagnosing MS, they can rule out other conditions that may mimic MS symptoms, including Lyme disease, collagen-vascular diseases, rare hereditary disorders, and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

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Can you have MS for years and not know it?

Can I have multiple sclerosis for years and not know it? Yes. MS can go undetected for years. Research has suggested that many patients experience MS-related symptoms and signs several years before receiving a definite diagnosis of the disease.

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What are rare symptoms of MS?

Unusual Symptoms of MS
  • MS: Strangest Symptoms From Head to Toe. 1/14. ...
  • Trapped in a Bear Hug. 2/14. ...
  • Out-of-Control Laughing or Sobbing. 3/14. ...
  • An Itch You Can't Scratch. 4/14. ...
  • Shocking Face Flashes. 5/14. ...
  • Fiery Feet. 6/14. ...
  • Hard to Swallow. 7/14. ...
  • Spine-Tingling Shock. 8/14.

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What does MS leg pain feel like?

MS can damage the nerves that affect your muscles. This can cause acute or paroxysmal pain in the form of spasms. Your arms and legs might shoot out uncontrollably and might have pain like cramping or pulling. Nerve pain can also be chronic in the form of painful or unusual sensations on your skin.

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What are the first signs of MS in a woman?

The early signs and symptoms of MS can be the same for women and men. 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.

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What can mimic MS?

These include fibromyalgia and vitamin B12 deficiency, muscular dystrophy (MD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease), migraine, hypo-thyroidism, hypertension, Beçhets, Arnold-Chiari deformity, and mitochondrial disorders, although your neurologist can usually rule them out quite easily.

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What does MS tingling feel like?

You may feel the sensation of your limb being “asleep” with a pins and needles sensation. Numbness of the face, body or extremities (arms and legs) is one of the most common symptoms of MS. It may be the first MS symptom you experienced.

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What is the life expectancy of someone with multiple sclerosis?

The researchers found that over the past 25 years, life expectancy for people with MS has increased. However, they also found that the median age of survival of people with MS was 76 years, versus 83 years for the matched population.

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Can you live a long life with MS?

You may have to adapt your daily life if you're diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), but with the right care and support many people can lead long, active and healthy lives.

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What is the main cause of multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is caused by your immune system mistakenly attacking the brain and nerves. It's not clear why this happens but it may be a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

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What does MS fatigue feel like?

My brain goes fuzzy, I can't think clearly, my speech slurs and my eyesight goes. Swallowing becomes more difficult, my balance gets worse and my legs feel heavy and clumsy. Unlike the limits of normal, everyday tiredness, which may give a little when pushed against, MS fatigue can feel like a barrier.

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What are the symptoms of MS in the legs?

Muscle spasms: They usually affect your leg muscles. They're an early symptom for almost half the people with MS. They also affect people with progressive MS. You might feel mild stiffness or strong, painful spasms.

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Can MS be brought on by stress?

But studies which have investigated whether stress causes MS have been mixed. Although the person with MS knows from their experience that their MS symptoms started after or alongside a stressful period of time, there is no direct evidence that stress causes MS — although it might trigger it.

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What happens when you are first diagnosed with MS?

Feelings of shock, denial, fear, anger, anxiety, loneliness, sadness, uncertainty and guilt are all a normal part of coming to terms with a diagnosis of a lifelong condition like MS. You may feel a sense of relief or acceptance, especially if you've spent a long time trying to find out the reason for your symptoms.

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Do you feel generally unwell with MS?

MS dizziness and vertigo is likely to make you feel nauseous. Many people with MS experience symptoms related to digestion, including dyspepsia, which causes an uncomfortable feeling of fullness and bloating along with pain. Digestive problems can also lead to nausea. MS bowel problems can leave you feeling queasy.

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What part of the leg does MS affect?

Tightness or stiffness of the muscles, called spasticity, is caused directly by MS. Spasticity, will alter walking and cause pulling on the joints. This can result in pain typically in the ankles, knees, hips and back.

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