Signs and Symptoms

 Vision problem is the first symptom to appear in most people which occurs because the
optic nerve is damaged (optic neuritis). Most oftenly, it only affects one eye but it can
affect both eyes in rare occasions. The person may experience pain when moving their
eyes, blurry vision, double vision, color blindness, involuntary eye movements, and even
vision loss.
 Fatigue is one of the most common signs of the early stages of Multiple Sclerosis.
Patients with Multiple Sclerosis reported to have extreme tiredness that affects their
muscles, cognition, and sleep. They have difficulty performing even the simplest tasks
since they get exhausted easily.
 Tingling and numbness are most commonly experienced on one side of the body at a time
and occurs in different parts of the body such as the face, trunk and extremities (arms and
legs). This happens because the disease affects the nerves of the brain and spinal cord and
may result to sending conflicting signals or sometimes no signal at all (numbness).
 Pain can take place in two forms: neuropathic pain and musculoskeletal pain.
Neuropathic pain is caused directly by Multiple Sclerosis and takes place because of the
damage of the nerves in the CNS. The patient with this kind of pain may feel “burning,
stabbing, sharp, and squeezing sensations.” Musculoskeletal pain, on the other hand,
refers to the pain that is indirectly caused by MS but is caused by other products of the
disease such as weakness, difficulty in movement and coordination, stiffness, and etc. For
instance, MS can cause weakness on one’s leg and provoke them to walk differently. This
difficulty in walking can cause pain in the back and hips of the patient.
 Having spasms and spasticity is also typical with those who have MS. Spasms refer to the
involuntary tightening and contraction of a muscle, whereas spasticity refers to the
stiffness of muscles that makes it heavy and resistant to movement. Spasticity most
usually occurs in the legs, although it can take place in any limb. It can be triggered by
“sudden movements or position changes, extremes of temperature, humidity or
infections, and can even be triggered by tight clothing.” It can be beneficial to some,
especially those who experience weakness in their legs; spasticity provides their legs
rigidity, enabling them to do basic actions such as standing up and walking. Spasticity
 can be treated through medications and therapy, and if left untreated it can lead to more
serious complications specifically pressure sores and contractures.
 Dizziness and/or problems with balance
 Cognitive issues
 Mental health problems
 Problems with sexual, bladder and bowel function