Signs and Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can be a frightening and unpredictable disease. It is a disease that affects an estimated 50,000 Canadians and three more are diagnosed every day. Multiple sclerosis is commonly diagnosed in young adults between the ages of 20 and 40 - the years when most are beginning their careers or building a family. It is a disease that can strike without warning and symptoms can often go unnoticed for several months or years.

Although symptoms vary, listed below are symptoms that people with MS usually experience over the course of their disease:

• Visual disturbances, especially blurred or double vision

• Extreme fatigue, often described as an overwhelming sense of physical or mental tiredness

• Balance and coordination problems

• Muscle stiffness or spasms

• Muscle weakness, particularly affecting the legs

• Altered sensation, such as tingling, numbness or a burning feeling in one particular area of the body

• Sensitivity to heat

• Speech difficulty, such as slowing or slurring of words

• Bladder and bowel problems

• Sexual dysfunction, including impotence, diminished arousal and loss of sensation

• Short-term memory or concentration problems

• Seizures

If you are or someone you care about is experiencing any of these symptoms, talk to your doctor or local MS Society chapter. Support programs are also available for counseling and guidance, like Shared Solutions , a national confidential program open to anyone affected by the disease. Shared Solutions can be reached at their toll-free number 1-800-283-0034 or by e-mailing.