What are early symptoms
of multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis can severely impact a person’s quality of life. Early diagnosis is critically important for those who suffer from the disease.
What is multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease of the nervous system in which the myelin that protects nerve cells is damaged, causing nerve impulses to diminish or disappear. This results in communication disorders between the brain and the body.
This disease most often affects women. Symptoms usually begin in patients between 20 and 40 years old.
There are different types of multiple sclerosis: relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), (whose symptoms occur in outbreaks that may last days or months); and primary progressive (PPMS) or secondary progressive (SPMS) multiple sclerosis, whose symptoms occur gradually.
Early symptoms of multiple sclerosis
Symptoms vary from person to person depending on the location of the lesions in the central nervous system and the type of multiple sclerosis afflicting a patient. Frequent symptoms include:
- Alterations in vision: the disease can cause damage to the optic nerve or eye muscles, leading to partial or total loss of vision. In addition, symptoms such as blurred vision, alterations in the intensity of colors, double vision, eye pain and involuntary eye movements may appear.
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Balance disturbances: dizziness, unsteadiness and lack of coordination may be due to neural problems caused by the disease, or may also be triggered by the visual problems, fatigue and muscle problems of the disease itself.
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Loss of muscle strength or muscle stiffness: this may occur in one limb or half of the body and may be accompanied by difficulty walking or moving the affected limb, involuntary spasms and pain.
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Sensory disorders: sensations such as tingling, itching, burning, numbness of the limbs or tightness can transpire for no apparent reason. These symptoms may occur in any part of the body.
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Bladder and Sphincter function disturbances: a patient can experience difficulty holding urine or have an urgent need to urinate, difficulty urinating or emptying the bladder completely. Unexplained changes in bowel rhythm may also occur.
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Cognitive and mood changes: patients may experience difficulty concentrating and suffer from depression. In addition, they may have problems communicating due to alterations in the muscles involved in speech, with manifestations such as uncontrolled voice volume, difficulty in articulating words, and slow speech, among others.
- Fatigue: extreme physical or mental tiredness can occur for no apparent reason, even after proper rest. Fatigue may also worsen other symptoms, such as difficulty walking or lack of concentration
- (To learn more about multiple sclerosis, see our VUMI session® Health Talks with experts from the Instituto de Neurociencias Vithas.)
When should I consult my physician?
The symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary greatly from person to person. MS symptoms can also resemble symptoms of other diseases, making correct diagnosis quite difficult.
If you have one or more of these symptoms without apparent explanation, it’s important to consult your physician so they can initiate the most appropriate treatment for your condition.
With VUMI®, you have access to many of the world’s leading specialists and medical centers in the treatment of this disease, such as the Instituto de Neurociencias Vithas, in Madrid , Spain.
In addition, you’ll have at your disposal VIP services according to the conditions of your plan, such as:
- Consultations with physicians and specialists in your home country or in locations around the world.
- Second medical opinion with international experts.
- Prescription drugs.
- Complementary therapies with chiropractors, osteopaths and acupuncturists.
- Psychological support.
- Nursing and therapist care in the home.
- Durable medical equipment.
- And much more!
