Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-term disorder affecting the brain and spinal cord. With MS, the immune system attacks the myelin sheath, a sleeve of fatty tissue responsible for covering and protecting nerve cells, causing communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. MS can deteriorate your nerves or cause permanent damage. MS affects people differently.
The severity of symptoms of MS varies from one person to another. Although there are no proven causes of MS, scientists believe genetics, bacteria and viruses infections, a weak immune system, low levels of Vitamin D, race, and climate contribute to its contraction. The following are seven multiple sclerosis MS symptoms:

1. Cognitive problems
Half of those suffering from MS have issues to do with cognitive function. They have memory and language problems, shortened attention span, and difficulty in staying organized. The mental problems are due to the loss of myelin around the nerve fibers, causing challenges in transporting memories to the brain storage or retrieving them from storage.

2. Tingling and numbness
Tingling and numbness mostly occur on the face, legs, arms, and fingers. It happens after MS affects the brain and spinal cord, sending conflicting signals all over the body. Sometimes it may hinder the brain from sending the signal resulting in numbness.

3. Pains and spasms
According to the NMSS, half of the people suffering from MS usually experience pain and spasms. Spasms, muscle stiffness, or joints affect the legs causing a lot of pain when trying to move. Back pain is also a common symptom.

4. Weakness or fatigue
About 80% of people suffering from MS experience unexplained weakness or fatigue during the disease’s early stages. Fatigue occurs when the brain and spinal cord’s message has to pass through the areas damaged by MS, causing the body to use a lot of energy to send and deliver messages around the body, resulting in build-up fatigue.

5. Balance problems or dizziness
Dizziness and decrease in mobility is a common problem experienced by people suffering from MS. The problem often occurs when someone tries to stand up. They usually feel lightheaded or off-balance due to nerves’ failure within the Central Nervous System, hence its inability to relay messages to the body parts. Prolonged dizziness can interfere with one’s daily activities by increasing the risk of falling, leading to disability.

6. Bladder issues
MS patients usually experience bladder problems. They frequently feel the urge to urinate, even when the bladder is not full. The bladder cannot hold in urine for long as the MS lesions delay transmitting signals to CNS, which controls the bladder and the urinary sphincters. The condition can lead to Urinary Tract Infections.

7. Vision problems
Vision problems are common early symptoms of MS. The inflammation affects your optic nerves, disrupting the central vision. When this occurs, you start experiencing loss of vision, having double vision, and blurred vision. You may also experience pain when you look up or look at one side for long. Even if there are several ways of coping with MS-related vision changes, it is advisable to see the doctor promptly once you start experiencing these symptoms because they take time before they erupt, and delay may cause permanent damage.