Multiple Sclerosis

DescriptionAn in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, and treatment of MS.

Symptoms Most patients first experience multiple sclerosis as a single attack of symptoms called a clinical isolated syndrome, which typically occurs between the ages of 20 and 40 years. Once a second attack occurs, the patient is considered to have relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis. Much less commonly, the disease is progressive from the start and symptoms are more or less continuous. Early Symptoms Early symptoms may include the following: Optic neuritis and other problems in the eye. Optic neuritis, which is inflammation of the nerves in the eye, affects over half of MS patients and it is the first symptom in about 16% of them. Symptoms include unclear or doubled vision, usually in one eye. Some people see a shimmering effect. Patients may also experience pain or involuntary jerking or movement of the eye (called nystagmus). In 20% of people with this condition, MS develops within two years after the onset. In 45% to 80%, MS develops within 15 years. About 17% of people eventually experience impaired eye movement. Fatigue. Fatigue is typically worse in the afternoon and may be accompanied by an increase in body temperature. (At the onset, this occurs in about 20% of patients, but as the disease progresses, this is a significant symptom in nearly all patients.) Changes in sensations in the arms and legs. Patients can experience heaviness, weakness, or clumsiness in the limbs. Tingling or loss of sensations can also occur, most commonly in the legs. (The first symptoms for patients with primary progressive MS often develop slowly in the upper legs.) Muscle weakness in the legs and poor coordination. Lhermittes sign. This is an electrical sensation that runs down the back and into the legs, which is produced by bending the neck forward. Spasticity. Spasticity is the inability to control muscle tone and leads to spasms and stiffness. It is very common in MS. Disturbances in the bladder. Additional Symptoms That Occur Over Time In addition to the persistence of early symptoms, some patients experience the following symptoms as the disease progresses. They include the following: Imbalance and dizziness. Tremors. Facial pain. Spasm-related symptoms. They include burning, itching, aching, quivering sensations. They usually occur in the extremities and last seconds to minutes. Speech difficulties. Difficulty swallowing. Symptoms in the gastrointestinal, urinary, and genital tracts. Possible sexual dysfunction and loss of bowel and bladder control in severe cases. Emotional mood swings. Depression is very common. About 10% of patients suffer from psychosis (e.g., manic depression and paranoia). About 5% of patients with severe MS experience uncontrolled and extreme mood swings called the laughing/weeping syndrome. Problems in concentration and memory. Hearing loss. Possible Symptom Triggers Viral Infections. Viral infections are known to worsen MS. In a 2003 study, for example, the risk for an exacerbation of symptoms tripled within a month of an infection. Heat. Heat, whether generated by ambient temperature, infection, or physical activity, worsens MS symptoms in about 60% of patients. Stress. There is a strong correlation between severe stress and exacerbation of MS symptoms. For example, in one 2002 study, 85% of instances of MS exacerbations were associated with stressful eventsthat occurred within an average of 14 days before the episode. Furthermore, a 2003 study suggested that stress doubled the risk for exacerbations within a month of the stressful event. (Stress is not a cause of MS, however.) Trauma. Some experts believe that injury (trauma) to the head, neck, or upper back may trigger new or recurrent symptoms by disrupting the blood-brain barrier and allowing immunological attacks on the brain. This is a highly controversial theory, however, with very little supporting evidence.