Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

Symptoms of multiple sclerosis vary for each patient, depending on the area of the nervous system that has been affected. Some of the more common symptoms of multiple sclerosis include vision problems, lack of coordination, and difficulty speaking. Most patients experience their first symptoms of multiple sclerosis between the ages of 20 and 40.

 

Possible Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

There are a number of possible symptoms of multiple sclerosis, including:
 
  • Problems with vision
  • Muscle weakness
  • Spasticity (tight muscles due to increased muscle tone)
  • Fatigue
  • Impaired senses of pain, temperature, and touch
  • Pain (moderate to severe)
  • Lack of coordination
  • Tremor (shaking)
  • Depression
  • Sexual problems
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Vertigo (feeling that the room is spinning)
  • Bladder problems
  • Bowel problems
  • Euphoria (extreme happiness)
  • Difficulty thinking clearly.
     

More Detail on Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

Most people experience their first symptoms of multiple sclerosis between the ages of 20 and 40.
 
 
The first symptom of multiple sclerosis is often blurred or double vision, difficulty distinguishing between red and green, or even blindness in one eye.
 
Most multiple sclerosis patients experience muscle weakness in their extremities and difficulty with coordination and balance. These symptoms of multiple sclerosis may be severe enough to affect walking or even standing. In the worst cases, multiple sclerosis can produce partial or complete paralysis.
 
Most people with multiple sclerosis also exhibit paresthesias, brief abnormal sensory feelings, such as:
 
  • Numbness
  • Prickling
  • "Pins and needles" sensations.
 
Some people with multiple sclerosis may also experience pain.
 
Speech impediments, tremors, and dizziness are other common symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Occasionally, people with multiple sclerosis have hearing loss.
 
Approximately half of all people with multiple sclerosis experience cognitive problems, such as difficulties with concentration, attention, memory, and poor judgment. Such symptoms are usually mild and are frequently overlooked.
 
Depression is another common symptom of multiple sclerosis.
 
(Click Symptoms of MS for more information on the symptoms of multiple sclerosis.)
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD