Multiple Sclerosis Facial Symptoms

A disease of the central nervous system, multiple sclerosis has many types of symptoms. Each person experiences the disorder differently. Common symptoms are muscle weakness in the legs or arms, numbness or tingling in the feet or hands and fatigue. Some people also have facial symptoms and vision disturbances.

Pain

• Facial pain, also called trigeminal neuralgia, can be intense in multiple sclerosis. But the symptom is rare and only lasts for a minute or two. It usually occurs in the lower part of the face and can be triggered by chewing or teeth brushing.

Palsy

• Another rare facial symptom is palsy, although it has been cited as an initial symptom of multiple sclerosis. In a 2004 issue of Aviation, Space and Environmental Medicine, a United States Air Force pilot developed facial palsy with no previous symptoms. Multiple sclerosis was subsequently diagnosed.

Numbness

• Facial numbness, called trigeminal sensory neuropathy, is the initial multiple sclerosis symptom in 2 to 3 percent of patients, according to Jose' Biller in his book "Practical Neurology."

Eye Disorders

• Eye symptoms are common and may include blurred vision, loss of color vision, double vision, jerky eye movements, lack of coordination between eyes, abnormal pupil response, or eyelid twitching.

Dentists

• An article in the Journal of the Canadian Dental Association in 2000 looked at dentists as the first point of contact for people with initial multiple sclerosis symptoms, who believe their facial pain or numbness is a dental problem.