Answers to Common Questions About MS

The symptoms of MS depend on the type of nerve fibers affected by the demyelination. For example, if a MS patient has demyelination of the nerve fibers that carry motor signals, then that patient can have issues with movement. Symptoms may include weakness in the limbs, muscle spasms, coordination problems and a loss of balance. Some MS patients may have problems walking or moving their arms and limbs. Other symptoms include tremors and stiffness.

The NINDS explained that the first symptoms that MS patients commonly experience are vision problems: about 55 percent of MS patients have optic neuritis, which is inflammation of the optic nerve, and around 15 percent of MS patients experience this issue as their first symptom. With optic neuritis, patients have symptoms usually in one eye, though both eyes may be affected. Symptoms include a loss of color vision, pain, vision loss and seeing flashing lights. MS patients may have uncoordinated eye movements or problems seeing straight ahead.

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