Multiple sclerosis (MS)

It’s a lifelong condition that can sometimes cause serious disability. In many cases, it’s possible to treat symptoms. Average life expectancy is slightly reduced for people with MS.

MS Society estimates that there are more than 130,000 people diagnosed with MS in the UK.

It’s often diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s, although it can develop at any age. It’s about two to three times more common in women than men.


MS Society estimates that there are more than 130,000 people diagnosed with MS in the UK.

It’s often diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s, although it can develop at any age. It’s about two to three times more common in women than men.


It’s often diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s, although it can develop at any age. It’s about two to three times more common in women than men.

Symptoms

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can cause a wide range of symptoms and can affect any part of the body. It affects everyone differently.

The symptoms are unpredictable. Some people’s symptoms develop and worsen over time, while for others, they come and go.

Periods when symptoms get worse are known as relapses. Periods when symptoms improve or disappear are known as remissions.

Some of the most common symptoms include:

Muscle spasms, stiffness and weakness MS can cause your muscles to: feel weak become stiff and resistant to movement (spasticity) contract tightly and painfully (spasm)

Vision problems In around 1 in 4 cases of MS, the first noticeable symptom is a problem with one of your eyes (optic neuritis). You may experience: some temporary loss of vision in the affected eye, usually lasting for days to weeks colour blindness  eye pain, which is usually worse when moving the eye flashes of light when moving the eye You might also experience double vision or involuntary eye movements, which can make it seem as though objects are jumping around.

Abnormal sensations You might have persistent numbness or tingling in different parts of your body which can last a few days to weeks.

Mobility problems MS can make walking and moving around difficult, particularly if you also have muscle weakness and spasticity. You may experience: clumsiness difficulty with balance and co-ordination (ataxia) shaking of the limbs (tremor) dizziness and vertigo, which can make it feel as though everything around you is spinning

Pain Some people with MS experience pain which can take two forms. Pain caused by MS itself (neuropathic pain) This is pain caused by damage to the nervous system, and can include: stabbing pains in the face stabbing sensations in the torso (body) and limbs feeling like you’re burning pins and needles feeling like you’re being hugged or squeezed Muscle spasms can sometimes be painful. Musculoskeletal pain This can be back, neck and joint pain particularly if you have problems walking or moving around.

Bladder problems Bladder problems are common in MS. They may include: having to pee more often having a sudden, urgent need to pee, which can lead to unintentionally passing urine (urge incontinence) difficulty emptying the bladder completely having to get up during the night to pee recurrent urinary tract infections These problems can also have a range of causes other than MS.

Bowel problems Many people with MS also have problems with their bowel function. Constipation is the most common problem. You may find passing stools (poo) difficult and pass them much less than normal. Bowel incontinence is less common, but is often linked to constipation. If a poo becomes stuck, it can irritate the wall of the bowel, causing it to produce more fluid and mucus that can leak out of your bottom. Some of these problems aren’t specific to MS and can be the result of medications.

Sexual problems MS can have an effect on sexual function. For women, problems include difficulty reaching orgasm. They might experience decreased vaginal lubrication and sensation. Men with MS might find it hard to get or maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction). They may also find it takes a lot longer to ejaculate when having sex or masturbating. They might lose the ability to ejaculate altogether. Both men and women with MS may find they’re less interested in sex than they were before. This could be directly related to MS, a mood disorder like depression, or it could be the result of living with the condition.

Speech and swallowing difficulties Some people with MS have difficulty chewing or swallowing (dysphagia) at some point. They might also slur their speech or be difficult to understand (dysarthria).

Fatigue Feeling fatigued is a common and troublesome symptom of MS. It can cause an overwhelming sense of exhaustion that means it’s a struggle to carry out simple tasks. Fatigue tends to get worse: towards the end of each day in hot weather after exercising during illness

Mental health issues Many people with MS experience periods of depression. It’s unclear if this is directly caused by MS, or is due to the stress of having to live with a long-term condition, or both. Anxiety can also be a problem for people with MS, possibly due to the unpredictable nature of the condition. In rare cases, people with MS can experience rapid and severe mood swings.

Problems with thinking, learning and planning Some people with MS have problems with thinking, learning and planning. This is known as cognitive dysfunction and can include: problems learning and remembering new things although long-term memory is usually unaffected slowness in processing lots of information or multi-tasking a shortened attention span getting stuck on words problems with understanding and processing visual information, such as reading a map difficulty with planning and problem solving – people often report that they know what they want to do, but can’t grasp how to do it problems with reasoning, such as mathematical laws or solving puzzles Many of these problems aren’t specific to MS. They can be caused by other conditions, including depression and anxiety or medication.

Speak to your GP if: you think you have symptoms of MS The symptoms can be similar to several other conditions, so they’re not necessarily caused by MS.