MSRC believes that, based on experience, people cope best when they look at what is happening, rather than what might be. Besides, although some symptoms are common to most people, some are relatively rare.

Of course that is easier to say and write than it is to do and we welcome anyone calling us if they want to talk through their feelings about this or any other subject.

This following list is not exhaustive. It is extremely unlikely that any one person would suffer all, or even most, of these symptoms. Most people have one, two or three and in any combination. For different people the combination, severity and frequency of exacerbations (attacks) will be different.

Physical symptoms may include any of the following:

• Muscle and Motor Disturbances including: loss of control of one or more limbs; Myoclonus; Swallowing difficulties; Tremor; inability to perform fine movements - e.g. doing up buttons, tying shoe laces etc; Legs or arms may suddenly go into spasm which is often painful, and walking may become very difficult when sticks or a wheelchair may be necessary.

• Loss of Co-ordination & Spasticity including: dizziness and vertigo; ataxia; staggering; clumsiness (spilling and dropping things).

• Fatigue including: intense desire for rest affecting motor and/or sensory nerves; dizziness and sometimes, in extreme cases, breathing difficulties 

• Visual including: retro-bulbar (behind the eye ball) & optic neuritis (inflammation of the nerve); nystagmus (rhythmical oscillation of the eye balls, either horizontal, vertical or rotary); double or blurred vision (a common first symptom); temporary blindness.

• Sensory including: impairment of sensory perception; loss of feeling, numbness, tingling; different degrees and kinds of pain, including Neuropathic pain.

• L'hermittes sign is an electric shock-like sensation which radiates down the back and into the legs when someone flexes their neck. It is a common early symptom of MS. In itself it is not a diagnostic however. It simply indicates a particular type of nerve damage, for which there are a variety of causes.

• Bladder and Bowel including: frequency; urgency; retention; constipation; incontinence.

• Speech difficulties and swallowing difficulties including: slurring; scanning and choking.

• Psychological - cognitive problems -  including: loss of memory and mental concentration; depression.

• Sexual including: loss of sensation and/or lubrication; impotence.

• Pain is one of the lesser known symptoms of MS which, now at long last, is being acknowledged and treated.

• Depression and Anxiety can also be associated with MS.

• Multiple Sclerosis "Hug" or "Girdle" - This is the term for one of the rather strange and weird symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis which can be classed as one of the many invisible symptoms but also as a spasm-type symptom.

• Heat Intolerance or anhidrosis as it is scientifically known, is a classic symptom of MS where a rise in temperature whether it’s internally or externally, may temporarily increase symptoms

Symptoms can become more pronounced when MS is active and may lessen or disappear again when the MS is quiet. In some people, symptoms fluctuate when the person is tired, upset or anxious.

Emotional difficulties arise from the uncertainties associated with MS as the unpredictability of the disease means that no one knows when or how it is going to strike.

The disease is usually characterised by attacks followed by periods of recovery (relapsing/remitting type of MS) although each attack tends to leave some residual problems.

© Multiple Sclerosis Resource Centre