Some MS Symptoms

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Any and all of the symptoms subsequently listed could also be attributed to other causes. Please do not read this list and presume that you must have multiple sclerosis. If you experience any of these symptoms you MUST consult a medical practitioner for further investigations.

There are approximately 85000 people in the UK diagnosed with MS and symptoms include?

• Tingling/Pins and Needles sometimes just in a small part of the body (a finger or part of a hand) and sometimes down an entire side - this does not go away quickly and can last for long periods (in my husband's case - over 20 years).
• Poor Manual Dexterity fingers feel as if wearing thick invisible gloves, things slip out of the hands and it is difficult to decide if something is hot or cold.
• Lack of Sensation in Legs and Feet leading to trips and stumbles over things that aren't there.
• Loss of Balance and Feeling of Dizziness causing difficulties in mobility.
• Double Vision or 'Blank Spots' can also cause balance difficulties and headaches
• Fatigue - a sudden and complete loss of energy that cannot be worked through (no second wind here I'm afraid) and the only answer is to rest it out and, if it becomes a major factor of life, use techniques of fatigue management e.g. dividing each day into periods of activity, seated activity and rest. Keeping a diary and recording when fatigue regularly affects you will help with this.
• Bladder causing worrying problems like feeling full when it is not or not sending the 'full' message until the last moment. Continence advisors at your local hospital are very experienced in the difficulties experienced by some people with MS and can offer lots of help and support if this is affecting your confidence to go out.
• Altered Tolerance to Heat - hot baths, hot weather, digesting a large meal (which also raises temperature) or any sort of infection can all make all your symptoms worse until your temperature lowers. Some people cannot tolerate low temperatures and become stiff and unsteady when cold.
• Dry and Flaky Skin is very common in some people with MS and a cream like E45 is found to be very helpful.
• Pain can have different causes - distortion of the body and muscles due to weakness, spasm and cramps and some nerve pain which is simply a lie (similar to the pain an amputee experiences in the limb that has gone). Each of these pains requires different treatment and your doctor or neurologist should be your first port of call.
• Swallowing Difficulties and Slurred Speech are embarrassing symptoms but help is available from the speech therapy department of your local hospital - give them a ring - you don't even need a referral from your doctor.
• Short Term Memory Loss is a scary symptom and is fairly common - no problem with what happened last year but who phoned this morning has gone! This is NOT the start of something much worse and can be managed fairly easily. It becomes worse if you are stressed or tired but there are lots of tricks for coping with the problem.
• Stress/Depression affects most people with MS at some time. The long drawn out period whilst tests are being done before you are given the diagnosis is a worrying time. Stress emanates as a feeling of too much to do and think about, not enough time, lack of patience and irritability, disturbed sleep and an inability to relax. A change of routine, finding someone to talk to about your feelings and something like yoga can help. Depression is more serious and less easy to relieve. Constant tiredness and an unwillingness to get out of bed, poor appetite, dulled emotions, increased use of alcohol to make yourself feel better and no interest in personal care all point towards depression and require medical help. Talk to your MS Nurse, your doctor or your neurologist about this - they all have the expertise to helping you.
• Sexual Difficulties caused by erectile dysfunction, lack of lubrication, spasms at the 'wrong moment', stiffness of limbs, lack of sensation, fear of causing pain - the list goes on - see SPOD in list of links.