What is the most prominent symptom of MS?

Some of the most common symptoms include:
  • fatigue.
  • vision problems.
  • numbness and tingling.
  • muscle spasms, stiffness and weakness.
  • mobility problems.
  • pain.
  • problems with thinking, learning and planning.
  • depression and anxiety.

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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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What is most commonly mistaken for 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 are the three most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis?

The most common symptoms of MS are:
  • Loss of vision (optic neuritis)
  • Double vision.
  • Vertigo.
  • Weakness in one or more limbs.
  • Facial weakness.
  • Facial pain (trigeminal neuralgia)
  • Numbness and tingling.
  • Muscle stiffness (spasticity)

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Can you leave a normal life with MS?

Contents. 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 are the symptoms of MS?

37 related questions found

What should I avoid with multiple sclerosis?

7 Foods to Avoid When You Have MS
  • Saturated Fats. Saturated fats come primarily from animal products and by-products, such as red meat and full-fat dairy, and are also found in foods that contain palm oil or coconut oil. ...
  • Trans Fats. ...
  • Cow's Milk. ...
  • Sugar. ...
  • Sodium. ...
  • Refined Carbs. ...
  • Gluten.

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How long does MS take to disable you?

Disease Course of MS Is Unpredictable

A person with benign MS will have few symptoms or loss of ability after having MS for about 15 years, while most people with MS would be expected to have some degree of disability after that amount of time, particularly if their MS went untreated.

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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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Where does MS usually start?

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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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 is the sister disease to MS?

Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare chronic disease that happens when your immune system attacks specific parts of your central nervous system. Experts previously thought this was a rare type of multiple sclerosis (MS) but now recognize it's a separate condition.

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What are unusual MS symptoms?

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 conditions are linked to MS?

Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders
  • Autoimmune Encephalitis.
  • Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD)
  • Transverse Myelitis.

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What is the beginning of MS like?

What Does MS Feels Like? A lack of feeling or a pins-and-needles sensation can be the first sign of nerve damage from MS. It usually happens in your face, arms, or legs, and on one side of your body. It tends to go away on its own.

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What does MS feel like in legs?

Muscle spasms and stiffness: Formally called spasticity, this symptom can range from mild feelings of muscle tightness to severe and painful spasms, according to the National MS Society, and it most commonly affects the legs.

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How is MS diagnosed officially?

In most people with relapsing-remitting MS , the diagnosis is straightforward and based on a pattern of symptoms consistent with the disease and confirmed by brain imaging scans, such as an MRI.

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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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How can I test myself for MS?

People cannot give themselves a diagnosis of MS. However, they may suspect they have MS based on certain symptoms.

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How do you test for MS in Australia?

Therefore a careful combination of clinical examinations, MRI scans and lumbar punctures are required. To differentiate MS from other similar neurological conditions, most neurologists use what is called the McDonald criteria.

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Can an eye test detect MS?

Multiple sclerosis (MS).

When your optometrist detects optic nerve inflammation, that can indicate a diagnosis of MS. Patients with MS often also have double vision, blurred vision, or report pain when moving their eyes.

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Can you have mild MS all your life?

Outlook. The outlook for benign MS isn't clear. Some people who are diagnosed with it never go on to have a more serious disease progression, while others do. Remember, just because you have mild symptoms when you're first diagnosed with MS doesn't mean that they'll stay that way.

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What autoimmune disease mimics MS?

Sarcoidosis is another inflammatory autoimmune disease that shares some symptoms with MS, including fatigue and decreased vision. But sarcoidosis most commonly affects the lungs, lymph nodes, and skin, causing a cough or wheezing, swollen lymph nodes, and lumps, sores, or areas of discoloration on the skin.

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