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Onset of MS Symptoms

MS, short for multiple sclerosis, is an incurable neurological system disease. In an individual with multiple sclerosis, the immune system progressively destroys the myelin sheath covering the axons of nerve cells within the spinal cord and brain. As the covering deteriorates, the brain will gradually become unable to precisely control the body. The early stages of the condition are characterized by a number of early onset symptoms.

  1. Aspects of symptom onset

    • The earliest multiple sclerosis symptoms generally become noticeable in individuals between the ages of 20 and 40. The symptoms may worsen, then disappear, only to reappear again possibly weeks or months later during this time period. When the symptoms do recur, they tend to be more pronounced. Women run a higher risk of developing the condition than men.

    Early sensory symptoms

    • Some of the most common early onset symptoms of multiple sclerosis involve problems with the body's sensory system. The person may experience unexplained numbness and a prickling or tingling feeling in either the arms or legs. These sensations are heat sensitive: they become markedly worse after the individual is exposed to heat, such as hot temperatures from weather or from a hot bath or shower.

    Early motor symptoms

    • The motor system is affected, even in the earliest stages of multiple sclerosis. Difficulty performing motor tasks with the hands and sudden weakness in the arms, legs, or both, can cause an individual with the condition to become uncoordinated, to have trouble walking, and to have difficulty holding onto objects in their hands. The muscles, especially those in the limbs, can spasm painfully and become hard to control.

    Early vision symptoms

    • The sudden onset of blurry or double vision is another early symptom of the condition. The vision problems are caused by optic neuritis, an inflammation of the optic nerve. In the case of multiple sclerosis, the optic nerve becomes inflamed as portions of its myelin sheath are destroyed. As the nerve swells, it causes visual problems. Over half of multiple sclerosis patients experience optic neuritis as an early symptom of the disease.

    Early neurological symptoms

    • As neurons in the brain lose their myelin covering and their ability to communicate effectively with one another, characteristic neurological problems can occur. The person may begin to have difficulty thinking clearly and have the feeling that they are not as able to think as quickly as they once were. Their powers of concentration and memory may also decrease.

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