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Symptoms of MS

Multiple Sclerosis (M.S.) differs from person to
person.No two people have identical symptoms.
It affects many different systems of the body.This is a list
of the most common symptons found in MS.

VISUAL DISORDERS

Visual problems are often the first problems seen in
M.S. Changes can include such things as double
vision, blurred vision, a blind spot in the vision, and
pain in the eye itself. These episodes are usually
caused by an inflammation of the optic nerve,
commonly called optic neuritis.

SPEECH AND SWALLOWING PROBLEMS

Often we find ourselves tongue tied. You have
certain words ready to say in your brain, but when
you say them, they aren't there, or they come out
jumbled up. There seems to be an increase of the
"it's on the tip of my tongue" syndrome amongst
those of us with M.S. The rhythm that we speak in
can also be affected....causing an unnatural sounding
speech, with pauses or excelerations where they are
not natural.

Swallowing problems are not as common as the
speech disorders, but are a concern for many with
M.S. It is usually seen later in the disease
progression. This particular problem should be
mentioned to your physician or neurologist as
swallowing problems can cause secondary respiratory
problems.

BLADDER PROBLEMS

This is one of those topics that are not particularly
fun to discuss. However, being that it is a
prominent problem with those who have M.S., here
we go. Bladder problems can be frustrating,
embarrassing and time consuming. Gone are the days
of running in and out of the bathroom.

Problems in this area are as individual as every
other part of the disease. Some have to go to the
bathroom all the time. Some find that they are not
aware of the need to void until it is too late. Some
can not urinate once they are aware they need to.
Problems can result from two types of bladder
problems. Spastic bladder refers to just that. The
muscles of the bladder spasm and do not allow the
free flow of urine. The other type is flaccid
bladder where we find a decrease in the muscle
tone. Here you see a loss of control and urine just
dribbles out. There is also such a thing as a "mixed"
bladder. This is harder to treat, as the medications
and treatments oppose each other.

Some of the treatments used for bladder problems
include medication and using catheters to assist in
draining the urine from the bladder. Often it
becomes necessary to wear protective (Depends thingies-ack!)
undergarments for those moments when we don't
have adequate control.

It is a frustrating problem if you are a traveling
person. Many of us have memorized the locations of
the bathrooms in our favorite stores, gas stations,
friends homes etc. It is a nuisance, but it too can
be managed!

MOVEMENT, COORDINATION AND BALANCE PROBLEMS

This is the most visible
symptoms in those of us with M.S. It can cause us
to appear to be very uncoordinated (more so than
we may have been in the past). This can result from
a lack of sensation in the hands or feet. It can also
cause a staggering type gait, causing one to walk as
if they have had too much to drink. Not many of us
would be able to pass a sobriety test if need be.
Balance can become difficult. This causes what we
refer to as wall walking. Hanging on to walls to help
keep us upright and prevent falls. There are many
things that can be done to aide in these problems.
Physicians often refer patients with M.S. to
therapies for assistance in managing these problems.
Physical therapy for gait problems. Occupational
therapists can come up with ideas or devices to
make activities of daily living easier and less time
consuming.

SENSORY PROBLEMS

Tingling in the extremities are most common. The
feeling that an arm or leg has gone for a prolonged
period of time. umbness can also be a problem.

Another condition along these lines that is seen
occasionally in M.S. is trigeminal neuralgia (TN). TN
is an inflammation of a branch of the trigeminal
nerve. This can cause facial or scalp pain. It is
often an intense pain that is described as having a
knife stab you in the face. It can also be a dull,
annoying pain Again, there are medications available
that can help reduce these feelings.

COGNITIVE PROBLEMS

Ok, our favorite and most frustrating area of
conversation. Every person that I have spoken to
with M.S. has some form of cognitive problems.
Most of these are minor annoyances.
These problems are often not understood by those we know
and care about. It is very hard to explain why the last months bills went
unpaid. Or why we forgot our children's birthdays.
Where our car keys, glasses, etc are. Why there is
milk in the cupboard and not in the fridge.
We find that we get up to go get the newspaper
and half way there forget what we were doing. Now
I know what you are saying. Everyone does this. But
it is more prominent and more frequent in those of
us with M.S.

Comprehending something we have read takes longer
and often we have to read it two or three times
before we understand what it is saying.

These problems are frustrating, but there are
things that can be done to make these less
troublesome. I use tons of post it notes to help me keep
track of various things I have to do.
I also have a terrible time remembering my
medicine. So I have one of those containers that I
set up with all my medicine in it by the day and time of day.

FATIGUE

This, for many, is the most frustrating, debilitating
condition that M.S. throws. It is not visible,
therefore not understood by others. Try to explain to kids why mom can't go out
roller-skating with them. In this day and age,
fatigue can be a crippler. It has just been
recognized by the Social Security Administration as
a legitimate effect of M.S. The only way I can
describe this to friends and family is this way.
Imagine you work for 16 hours in a row. I feel this
way after I have done a load of laundry. Or cooked
a meal. Imagine the fatigue felt after working a full
day, five days a week. That means lots and lots of
overtime and not getting paid for it!
You see, it takes us longer to complete the simplest
of tasks. I personally can no longer make it around
my favorite places without sleeping for 4 hours afterwards.

This problem is also the hardest for me to manage.
Often I must weigh the consequences of my activities
and decide if going to the beachfor the day is worth a
week of suffering afterwards.To be with my family,
of course it is.=0)

This is just a small sample of some of the things
that people with MS battle with daily. If you know
someone with MS that can't get out due to having a bad
MS day, offer to go see them. You just might make their day.

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