10 Early Warning Signs Of Multiple Sclerosis

Like it? Share it!

Facebook

Pinterest

Reddit

Twitter

Google+

Practical Pain Management

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society describes multiple sclerosis (MS) as ‘a disease that impacts the brain and spinal cord which make up the central nervous system and controls everything we do.’

While the exact cause of MS remains unknown, what is understood is that there is something that triggers the immune system to attack the brain and spinal cord. This results in damage to the myelin, which is the substance that works as a protective layer around the ‘wire-like nerve fibers’ in the central nervous system. When these fibers are attacked, they cause communication issues in the signals that come to and from the brain, resulting in symptoms like tingling, numbness, pain, fatigue, and more.

Statistics show that over 2.3 million people have been diagnosed with MS around the world. At least 1 million of this number are people 18 years old and above that have been diagnosed with MS within the United States alone.

Here are 10 early warning signs of multiple sclerosis.

1. Tingling and Numbness

Since MS affects the nerves and in the spinal cord and the brain, it can cause what is medically known as paresthesia, which is a feeling of tingling, burning, or numbing sensations. This is also considered the most common of all the early signs of multiple sclerosis, precisely because of the demyelination, which is when the protective coating of nerve cells – myelin – becomes damaged. While this tends to be the first symptom and most common early MS symptom that patients share they feel, it can occur at any stage of the disease.