Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system that mainly affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves. Its causes may be related to genetics, viral infections, and autoimmune abnormalities. The disease often occurs in young adults aged 20 to 40, with a higher incidence in women than in men. North America and Northern Europe have the highest prevalence, while in Asian countries such as China, Japan, and Singapore, the number of cases has also been gradually increasing in recent years. If not promptly recognized and treated, patients may develop varying degrees of disability, seriously affecting quality of life.

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis are variable, depending on the location and severity of the lesions. Below are its main clinical manifestations.

Detailed Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

1. Motor dysfunction

Motor symptoms are among the most common manifestations. Patients may experience limb weakness, stiffness, poor coordination, or even paralysis. Early symptoms often include leg weakness, dragging feet while walking, or unilateral limb paralysis, which may progress to muscle spasms and uncontrolled movements.

2. Sensory abnormalities

Patients often experience numbness, tingling, electric shock-like sensations, or reduced sensitivity to temperature or touch in the limbs. These sensory abnormalities may affect one side of the body or occur symmetrically. Some patients may even have difficulty distinguishing between hot and cold.

3. Vision problems

Optic nerve involvement is an important symptom of MS. Typical manifestations include blurred vision in one eye, double vision, reduced color vision, or pain with eye movement. Some patients may experience recurrent optic neuritis, gradually impairing vision.

4. Balance and coordination disorders

Cerebellar involvement may lead to unsteady gait, difficulty standing, and dizziness. Patients are prone to falls during daily activities, and fine motor skills such as writing or threading a needle become difficult.

5. Bladder and bowel dysfunction

More than half of patients experience urinary frequency, urgency, incontinence, or difficulty urinating. Some may also have constipation or incontinence, which severely affects daily life and social activities.

6. Severe fatigue

Fatigue is one of the most common and difficult-to-control symptoms. Even with adequate sleep, patients may feel extremely tired, struggle to concentrate, or have difficulty completing tasks over long periods.

7. Emotional and cognitive changes

Cognitive impairments include memory decline, decreased language organization, and slower information processing, affecting learning and work efficiency. Anxiety, depression, and mood swings are also common psychological symptoms.

8. Sexual dysfunction

Some patients experience reduced libido, erectile dysfunction, or painful intercourse. These issues are related to neurological damage, emotional state, and side effects of medication, and are often overlooked despite having a significant impact on quality of life.

Conclusion

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis are complex and require close attention to early recognition and scientific evaluation. Experts at United Life International Medical Center recommend that once patients present with suspected manifestations, they should seek medical evaluation as soon as possible. Modern treatment methods, including stem cell therapy, can effectively slow disease progression and help preserve neurological function and quality of life.