MS
Symptoms
Symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary
greatly from person to person and from time to time in the
same person.
MS attacks the protective covering —
myelin — of the brain and spinal cord, causing inflammation
and often damaging the myelin in patches. When this happens,
the usual flow of nerve impulses along nerve fibres (axons)
is interrupted or distorted. The result may be the wide variety
of MS symptoms, depending upon what part or parts of the central
nervous system are affected.
The damaged parts of myelin are often called
“lesions” or “plaques”. There is also
evidence that permanent damage to nerve fibres may occur in
association with the attack on myelin.
While the following list of symptoms can
seem daunting, particularly to people who are newly diagnosed,
there are treatments to help manage most of these symptoms
(please see Managing MS symptoms below).
Symptoms may include:
- vision disturbances such as double or
blurred vision
- extreme fatigue
- loss of balance
- problems with coordination
- stiffness of muscles
- speech problems
- bladder and bowel problems
- short-term memory problems
- partial or complete paralysis
Please keep in mind, not all people with
MS will experience all symptoms and often the symptoms will
improve during periods of remission.
Managing
MS symptoms
Symptoms develop depending upon which part
of the brain and spinal cord MS is affecting. Please see the
links below for information on how to manage specific symptoms.
In addition, please see the section on symptoms in Multiple
Sclerosis: Its effects on you and those you love.
Bowel and bladder problems –
please see the following publications: Urinary
Dysfunction and MS and Understanding
Bowel Problems.
Fatigue – check out
the tips under Tips for living with MS above
and Living Well With
MS: Managing Fatigue.
Mood, memory and cognitive issues -
the publications covering this issues include: a special
insert in August 2004 MS Canada, and Living
Well - Mind Matters.
MS Attacks - please see
this special
insert in August 2002 MS Canada.
Pain - read the medical
update memo on Sativex® available by prescription
for treatment of MS-related pain.
Sexuality and MS - please click
here for this online publication.
Spasticity - read Dr. Marcelo
Kremenchutzky's article in September 2004 MS
Ontario.
For further information on these subjects
and more, visit our Publications and
Recommended Resources.
To find out about current research into
the cause and possible treatment of MS symptoms, visit our Research
section.
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