5 Early Signs of Multiple Sclerosis 

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic degenerative disease of the central nervous system. It’s believed to be an autoimmune disorder, a condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues by mistake. MS is unpredictable; some people have only mild symptoms, while others lose their ability to see clearly, write, speak, or walk.

At Advanced Neurology Specialists, LLC in Naples, Florida, board-certified neurologist Dr. Cory Lamar specializes in diagnosing and treating multiple sclerosis. As many people don’t know the early signs of the disease, we’re taking the opportunity to tell you about them, so you’ll know when to get medical help.

What causes MS?

In MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks and breaks down myelin, the fatty sheath that covers and protects nerves. The nerves become unable to send messages, interrupting normal communication between the brain and the body and leading to a variety of problems that range from blurred vision to the inability to walk.

Which symptoms a person experiences depends on where the damage to the nervous system occurs and how severe the damage is.

What are the types of MS?

MS comes in a number of different types. The three major types include:

1. Relapsing-remitting MS

Most people with MS have this type. They experience periods over days or weeks during which new symptoms appear, or they relapse into current symptoms. These relapses are followed by periods during which the disease goes into remission, which can last for months or even years.

2. Secondary-progressive MS

Between 20% and 40% of people with relapsing-remitting MS eventually develop a steady, worsening progression of new symptoms that may or may not come with periods of remission. These symptoms often present as mobility challenges. The rate of progression varies widely from one person to another.

3. Primary-progressive MS

With this type of MS, people experience a gradual onset and steady progression of signs and symptoms without any remission.

Diagnosing MS

MS can present like a number of other conditions, so it’s important to see a specialist to determine if you have the disease. The doctor doesn’t use any one test, but rather takes a medical history, performs a neurological exam, notes signs and symptoms, and views the results of imaging and lab tests.

To be diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, two things must occur.

First, you must have had two separate attacks at least a month apart. An attack is when any MS symptoms appear suddenly or when symptoms get worse for at least 24 hours.

Second, you must have more than one damaged area of the central nervous system’s myelin. In addition, the damage must have occurred at more than one point in time and not have been attributable to any other disease.

At this time, there is no cure for MS, but there are some treatments that can help, such as disease modifiers that target inflammation in the central nervous system and slow its deterioration, and the use of steroids and plasma exchange (PLEX) to speed up recovery following an MS attack.

Five early signs of MS

As we’ve mentioned, signs and symptoms vary from one person to the next, and what comes early for someone may not occur until later for another – or even at all. Visual symptoms are often most associated with early symptoms because they’re concrete and can be easily checked by a doctor.

Some general signs that occur early for most people include:

1. Pain and loss of vision due to swelling of the optic nerve (optical neuritis)
2. Blurred or double vision
3. Red-green color distortion
4. Trouble walking and difficulty with balance
5. An abnormal feeling, such as numbness, prickling, or pins and needles (paresthesia)

If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to see a neurologist, and Advanced Neurology Specialists, LLC, can help determine if you have MS. Call our office at 239-667-5878 to set up a consultation with Dr. Lamar, or book online with us today.