The signs of ms can vary widely from one person to the next, but most people who have it experience some combination of pain, numbness, weakness, and cognitive problems. If you have a sudden or unexplained problem, such as losing your balance and falling to the ground, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, or having trouble seeing or speaking, get medical help right away. These could be early signs of a stroke or other life-threatening condition.
Fatigue is a common symptom of MS, and it can be especially hard to get through the day when you’re a woman. It can also affect women differently than men, because their nervous and immune systems are different. Plus, the hormonal fluctuations of menstrual cycles and pregnancy can exacerbate some symptoms.
Another common symptom of ms is tremors, which can be mild or disabling. They tend to be more pronounced when you try to move your body, such as when reaching for something or picking something up. Some people also have a hard time chewing or swallowing, which is called dysphagia. This can be a very serious problem because it means you may need to avoid certain foods and drinks, which can cause nutritional deficiencies.
Cognitive problems associated with ms can be minor or severe, depending on the type of ms and what part of the brain and spine are affected. People who have optic neuritis, which can cause blurred vision, often have eye pain and fatigue. And those who have transverse myelitis, which causes a kind of shock-like feeling in the back and neck, usually have pain or numbness in the arms or legs.
Some people with ms can have very aggressive disease, which progresses quickly and has a high rate of disability. The condition is sometimes referred to as Marburg variant MS or Balo’s concentric sclerosis, and it affects mainly young women. Others have relapsing-remitting MS, which tends to be less progressive over time.
Women are three times more likely than men to have relapsing-remitting ms, but they can also have primary-progressive disease as well. Other factors that influence the likelihood of getting MS include geography (people who live farther from the equator are at higher risk) and race (African-Americans seem to be less prone to develop the disease than whites).
If you have early signs of ms, a neurologist will ask you questions about your past health history, take a neurological exam, and do an MRI scan of your brain and spine. Then they’ll look for a pattern of damage to your nerves, such as scar tissue or lesions. If they see a pattern, they will probably order blood tests to rule out vitamin deficiencies or other conditions that could be causing your symptoms. They will also discuss treatments and possible side effects with you. If you decide to get treatment, most neurologist specialize in MS and can guide you through your options for medications and other therapies. Some may even be able to prescribe you a medication that’s safe for pregnancy and breastfeeding, which can help slow the progression of your ms.
