Your nervous system controls everything your body does, from the way you breathe and move your muscles to how you see and feel sensations. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that attacks the nervous system. It damages the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves.
The symptoms of MS are often unpredictable and different from person to person. They can show up slowly and may come and go.
“The early signs of multiple sclerosis can be hard to identify,” said Nida Laurin, MD, a neurologist with Banner Brain & Spine. “I often tell my patients that they know their bodies best. If something doesn’t feel right, it’s important to pay attention to it.”
“Your brain is remarkable. Even as MS affects your nervous system, your brain might find ways to work around the damage. This can cause symptoms to fluctuate, which can be confusing,” Dr. Laurin said. That’s why it’s important to tune in to small changes in how your body feels or works.
You might think your symptoms aren’t serious. But tracking the changes you notice and sharing that information can help your health care provider spot patterns and decide on the right tests.
Getting care early can lead to a faster diagnosis and make a big difference in managing MS and keeping symptoms from getting worse.
How does MS affect the brain and spinal cord?
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease. That means your immune system, which normally protects you, mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. With MS, the immune system goes after the protective coating around the nerves and parts of the nerves in your central nervous system. This damage makes it harder for your brain to send clear messages to the rest of your body.
There are different types of MS, including:
- Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS): The most common type, where symptoms flare up and then improve
- Primary progressive MS (PPMS): A slower, steady progression as symptoms get worse over time
The kind of MS you have and where the nerve damage happens can affect which symptoms you notice first.
What are early symptoms of multiple sclerosis?
MS doesn’t show up the same way for everyone. Some people start with subtle or mild symptoms. For others, the signs are more obvious.
Common early symptoms include:
- Numbness and tingling: You might feel numbness, tingling or a “pins and needles” sensation in your face, arms, legs or torso. It often affects just one side of your body at a time or affects your body from the waist down.
- Vision changes: Blurry vision, double vision or eye pain — especially when moving your eyes — can be signs of optic neuritis, which is a common early symptom of MS.
- Dizziness or balance problems: Feeling dizzy, off-balance, clumsy or like the room is spinning (vertigo) may be one of the first clues something’s up.
- Muscle weakness: You might notice one arm or leg feels weaker. That can make walking, holding onto things or doing everyday tasks harder than usual.
- Fatigue: Lots of people with MS experience extreme tiredness that doesn’t get better when they rest. It’s often one of the earliest and most frustrating signs of the condition.
“The way these symptoms develop can vary widely. And while MS starts more often in young adults, it can begin at any age,” Dr. Laurin said.
Why can early MS symptoms be confusing?
The brain is surprisingly good at adapting to changes. This means early signs of MS might seem to come and go or feel unrelated.
Because MS symptoms can appear and disappear gradually, over days or weeks, it can be easy to dismiss them as temporary or assume they aren’t serious. “Symptoms may seem to improve and then return,” Dr. Laurin said.
You might feel fine for a while and think the issue has passed. You might think that stress, sleep problems or other conditions are causing your symptoms. But if anything doesn’t seem quite right, it’s a good idea to follow up.
When should you talk to a health care provider about MS symptoms?
Notice something new or unusual — especially changes in your vision, balance, strength or sensation? Don’t wait to reach out for help. It’s important to consult with a health care provider as soon as possible.
“Trust your instincts and seek care if something feels wrong. Even if you’re unsure whether your symptoms are related to MS, it’s always a good idea to reach out to a doctor,” Dr. Laurin said. "The sooner we can identify the condition, the better we can manage its impact."
How can early awareness of MS help?
If you’re diagnosed with MS, you can get started with treatment right away. “With multiple treatment options to try, combined with a healthy lifestyle, you can change the disease’s progression, prevent disability and live a relatively normal life,” Dr. Laurin said.
“MS is no longer a disease that puts people into wheelchairs. There are many people with MS who live their lives to the fullest, raising families, working full time and traveling the world,” she said.
How can Banner Health support you?
At Banner Health, our neurology specialists listen to your concerns, help figure out what’s going on and support you every step of the way. If you're worried that your symptoms might be early signs of MS, reach out to a Banner Health expert. We’ll put together an evaluation, diagnosis and care plan tailored to you.
