|  | Conditions Treatments | Multiple Sclerosis

What Mimics MS Symptoms?

Multiple sclerosis is a condition that is often difficult to diagnosis because many other conditions present similar symptoms. Symptoms of multiple sclerosis include weakness, numbness, tingling, tremors, balance problems, fatigue, visual impairment, dizziness and urinary urgency. Symptoms of multiple sclerosis may sometimes go into remission and then flare up again later. To properly diagnose multiple sclerosis doctors need to rule out other conditions and to also identify the presence of lesions on the brain and/or spinal cord.

  1. Vascular Disease

    • Vascular disease is a condition that occurs when parts of the body do not receive adequate blood flow because of a blockage. Symptoms of vascular disease include pain when walking, muscle cramps, slow-healing leg and feet sores, and chronic leg pain.

    Spinal Cord Compression

    • When the spinal cord becomes compressed nerves may become pinched, resulting in bothersome symptoms. Symptoms of spinal cord compression include burning pain, sharp pain, tingling, numbness and muscle twitching. Sometimes symptoms may be worse during sleep.

    Lyme Disease

    • Lyme disease is a condition transferred to humans through a tick bite. Symptoms of Lyme disease may include a localized rash where the tick bite occurred. Other symptoms include fever, chills, fatigue, headache, body aches, joint pain, temporary paralysis, numbness, weakness, muscle coordination impairment and sleeping problems. Some individuals my even suffer from eye inflammation, which is similar to eye problems caused by multiple sclerosis.

    Lupus

    • Lupus is another inflammatory disease that occurs as a result of an immune system malfunction. The immune system attacks the organs and cells within the body, causing damage of varying degrees. Symptoms of lupus may also go into remission and the flare up just as those associated with multiple sclerosis. Symptoms of lupus inlcude joint pain, joint swelling, joint stiffness, fever, fatigue, mouth sores, facial rash, skin lessions, shortness of breath, memory loss, chest pain and anxiety.

    Sarcoidosis

    • Sarcoidosis is a condition that results in clumps of inflamed cells throughout the body. This condition usually affects the skins, eyes, lymph nodes and lungs. Symptoms of sarcoidosis may include fatigue, general discomfort, fever, shortness of breathe, cough and irritated eyes. Also, the elbows, wrists, hands and ankles may suffer from arthritis symptoms. In addition, a rash may occur on the arms, buttocks and face.

    Fibromyalgia

    • Fibromyalgia is a complicated syndrome that is also very difficult to diagnosis. Symptoms vary widely from person to person. Symptoms will sometimes go into remission for a time and then flare up for a time. Symptoms of fibromyalgia include allover pain, insomnia and fatigue. Fibromyalgia sometimes occurs along with other conditions, such as lupus, irritable bowel syndrome, endometriosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis and restless legs syndromes.

Multiple Sclerosis - Related Articles