What are the early signs of multiple sclerosis?
Some of the early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS) include weakness or numbness in one or more limbs; tremor or abnormal, uncoordinated movements while walking; slurred speech, or dizziness; double vision or the painful loss of vision in one eye; or long-lasting fatigue.
Most symptoms develop abruptly, within hours or days, reach their peak within a few days, and resolve slowly lasting for about 8 weeks from onset to recovery.
But just because you have some of these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you have MS. Other conditions that can resemble MS symptoms or affect myelin include:
- Viral infections
- Collagen vascular disease
- Exposure to toxic materials
- Guillain-Barré syndrome
- Severe vitamin B-12 deficiency
- Rare heredity disorders
- Other autoimmune disorders.
References
- Rolak LA. Multiple sclerosis: it's not the disease you thought it was. Clin Med Res. 2003;1(1):57-60. doi:10.3121/cmr.1.1.57
- Multiple sclerosis Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/multiple-sclerosis/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350274
Read next
How long can you live with multiple sclerosis?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is not generally considered life-threatening and most people will live a normal life-span. One study has found that the average life expectancy for people with MS is 76 years of age. In 2019, the U.S. life-expectancy averaged 78.8 years, but in 2020 it declined to 77.3 years, primarily due to the COVID pandemic. Many people with MS may live for 25 to 35 years or longer after their diagnosis. Continue reading
Prednisone: What are 12 Things You Should Know?
Prednisone first came onto the market over sixty years ago and is still going strong. But did you know that this common drug used for a variety of different conditions also has some pretty serious side effects as well? Continue reading
Is Kesimpta better than Ocrevus?
In patients with relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis, Kesimpta (ofatumumab) is thought to be more effective than Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) in some ways, but no clinical trials have directly compared the two drugs
Ocrevus is the only one of the two drugs approved to treat primary progressive multiple sclerosis Continue reading
Related medical questions
- What are the early warning signs of Multiple Sclerosis?
- How do you test for multiple sclerosis?
- Prednisone vs Prednisolone - What's the difference?
- What are the new drugs used for multiple sclerosis (MS)?
- How much does Ocrevus cost?
- What are 8 key Kesimpta side effects to watch out for?
- Briumvi vs Ocrevus: How do they compare?
- What are 8 key Mavenclad side effects to watch out for?
- Who is the actress in the Kesimpta commercial?
- How long does it take Ocrevus to work?
- Is Tecfidera an immunosuppressant?
- How do Vumerity and Tecfidera compare for multiple sclerosis (MS)?
- Can I stop taking Tecfidera? What happens if I do?
- Ocrevus side effects: What are 5 key side effects to watch for?
- How long does an Ocrevus infusion take?
- Is Ocrevus a form of chemotherapy?
- What causes flushing with Tecfidera?
- Can you drink alcohol while taking Tecfidera?
- How long can Kesimpta be out of the fridge?
- Where and how should Copaxone be injected?
- Does Tysabri suppress the immune system?
- How effective is Mavenclad for MS?
- How long does it take for Kesimpta to work?
- How quickly does Mavenclad work?
- How does Ocrevus work for MS?
- What happens when you stop taking Gilenya?
Related support groups
- Multiple Sclerosis (98 questions, 557 members)