Multiple Sclerosis Warning Signs

Several multiple sclerosis warning signs may indicate you have MS. Unfortunately, these signs often go unnoticed. A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis is often difficult to make: Not only is the condition unpredictable, but it is also often in an advanced state when recognized for what it is. What are the warning signs of multiple sclerosis-and how can you tell if you might be overlooking them?

Numbness And Pain: These are often the first multiple sclerosis warning signs you will have. This pain and numbness usually shows up in one or more limbs, or on one half of the body, instead of all over. A tingling sensation may or may not accompany the numbness; it may also show up on its own.

Dizziness, Vertigo, And Loss Of Balance: Feelings of falling or of being off-balance accompany MS in many individuals. Others may simply feel lightheaded, while a few sufferers feel as though they are spinning around, or that the world is spinning around them.

Cognitive Changes: Since multiple sclerosis attacks the nerves, brain function is often affected as well. Fully 50% of people with MS will notice some change in their cognitive (high-level) functioning. Cognitive changes may include changes to the ability to focus, maintain attention, perform calculations, use language or remember new information. MS may also impact organizational, planning and problem-solving skills.

Why It's All Too Easy To Ignore Multiple Sclerosis Warning Signs
MS symptoms don't usually appear together all at once. In fact, most people with MS don't have every single one of the symptoms the disease may bring. For this reason, both diagnosis and prognosis of multiple sclerosis are often difficult to determine.

Many people have no more than one or two symptoms show up for a very long time. These symptoms often stay the same, getting no worse from week to week or even year to year. This makes it easy to write the symptom off, especially if there is no family history of the disease.

Add to this the natural fact that most of us are used to thinking of ourselves as reasonably healthy individuals, and we would rather not deal with any major medical conditions. It becomes easy to see why many people ignore multiple sclerosis warning signs until their symptoms are life-altering and severe.