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4 Early Warning Signs of MS and Treatments To Consider

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a disorder in which your body’s immune system attacks the myelin sheath that protects your nerve cells in your brain, spinal cord, and optic nerve. If you or someone you know are showing multiple sclerosis signs and you are worried here are 4 multiple sclerosis symptoms that serve as early warning signs:

1. Vision issues

One of the early warning signs of multiple sclerosis is inflammation of the optic nerve which causes vision problems such as blurred vision, dim vision, or loss of color vision. It can also cause an ache in your eyes when moving them. These vision problems tend to come and go and might affect one or both eyes. These vision problems are known as optic neuritis and are one of the first obvious signs of MS.

2. Muscle weakness and spasms

Muscle weakness and spasms otherwise known as MS spasticity affects between 40% to 80% of people with MS. These muscle issues tend to be occasional and not happen all the time. The spasms are painful and uncontrollable and affect extremities, typically the legs. Spasticity may also cause a feeling of tightness and pain in the joints and lower back.

3. Bladder and bowel issues

Bladder and bowel issues affect 78 to 90 percent of patients during the course of MS. Again this early warning sign is occasional and tends to come and go with the disorder. These issues occur because the damage to the brain caused by the immune system can interfere with the brain’s ability to regulate bodily functions.

4. Cognitive problems

Slowed processing speed and problems in learning and memory are common in people with MS. This can serve as a warning sign that something is wrong and that you or your loved one might have MS. The cognitive issues are caused by the immune system attacking the nerves in the brain, which causes issues with thinking, learning, and planning.

Treatments and medications for multiple sclerosis

There is no cure for multiple sclerosis. MS treatments typically aim to speed the recovery from attacks, manage symptoms, and slow the progression of the disease. There are several disease modifying therapies (DMTs) for relapsing-remitting MS and medications such as Ocervus, Mayzent, Aubagio, Ponvory, and Kesimpta that can help reduce symptoms and flareups.

MS Does Not Develop Into ALS

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are distinct neurological disorders with different underlying pathologies and clinical presentations. MS is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the myelin sheath surrounding nerve fibers, leading to communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body. Its symptoms can include vision problems, fatigue, and impaired coordination. In contrast, ALS, often known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, involves the degeneration and death of motor neurons. This degeneration affects the muscles’ ability to function, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy, ultimately impacting the ability to move, speak, eat, and breathe. While both diseases affect the nervous system, their causes, progression, and treatments vary considerably.