What is the earliest age for MS?
The youngest age of onset of MS in the medical literature is 2 years but the majority of children are diagnosed in their early teens. In 3 to 5 percent of cases, MS onset is before age 16; an onset before 10 years of age is extremely uncommon, with a reported incidence of 0.2 to 0.7 percent.
Here's where MS (typically) starts
Although a number of MS symptoms can appear early on, two stand out as occurring more often than others: Optic neuritis, or inflammation of the optic nerve, is usually the most common, Shoemaker says. You may experience eye pain, blurred vision and headache.
Symptoms can appear suddenly and then vanish for years after the first episode, or in some cases never reappear. The symptoms of MS vary greatly and can range from mild to severe. Most people suffer minor effects.
- Normal MRI.
- No abnormal findings on neurological exam.
- Bilateral vision loss.
- Peripheral neuropathy.
- Rigidity; sustained dystonia.
- Seizures.
- Headache.
- Early dementia.
While there is no definitive blood test for MS, blood tests can rule out other conditions that cause symptoms similar to those of MS, including lupus erythematosis, Sjogren's, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, some infections, and rare hereditary diseases.
On average, with relapsing forms of MS, women are three times more likely than men to develop this disorder.
- vision loss in one or both eyes.
- acute paralysis in the legs or along one side of the body.
- acute numbness and tingling in a limb.
- imbalance.
- double vision.
This generally happens within 10 to 25 years of the first diagnosis. In SPMS, people may still experience relapses. These are then followed by partial recoveries or periods of remission, but the disease doesn't disappear between cycles. Instead, it steadily worsens.
MRI plays a vital role in how we diagnose and monitor MS. In fact, over 90% of people have their MS diagnosis confirmed by MRI.
Neuropathic pain happens from “short circuiting” of the nerves that carry signals from the brain to the body because of damage from MS. These pain sensations feel like burning, stabbing, sharp and squeezing sensations. In MS you can experience acute neuropathic pain and chronic neuropathic pain.
What things trigger MS?
- Stress.
- Fatigue.
- Heat.
- Infections.
- Diet.
- Medications.
- Smoking.
Evidence shows that low vitamin D levels, smoking and obesity all play important roles in the development of MS. Many viruses and bacteria have been or are being investigated in connection with MS as well.
Although the person with MS knows from their experience that their MS symptoms started after or alongside a stressful period of time, there is no direct evidence that stress causes MS — although it might trigger it.
- fatigue.
- vision problems.
- numbness and tingling.
- muscle spasms, stiffness and weakness.
- mobility problems.
- pain.
- problems with thinking, learning and planning.
- depression and anxiety.
Because the central nervous system is affected, those symptoms can be wide-ranging. Among the most common are vision problems, muscle weakness, numbness and difficulty with balance and coordination.
Fatigue in MS is not just an ordinary tiredness, like you might get at the end of a hard day's work. People describe it as an overwhelming sense of tiredness with no obvious cause. You may wake up feeling as tired as you did when you went to sleep.
Some people with multiple sclerosis (MS) may be given diphenhydramine (Benadryl) before undergoing certain treatments. Preventive use of this antihistamine can help you avoid adverse effects, such as allergic reactions to infusions.
They'll also look for signs of MS, such as: elevated levels of antibodies called IgG antibodies. proteins called oligoclonal bands. an unusually high number of white blood cells.
- A comprehensive patient medical history and neurological exam.
- Magnetic resonance imaging of the neuroaxis.
- Evoked Potentials testing.
- Analysis of the spinal fluid.
At this point in time, there are no cures for MS. There are also no proven ways to prevent getting the disease. There is, however, ongoing MS research to one day understand this disease and prevent it from occurring.
What is the most common symptom experienced by people living with MS?
Numbness of the face, body, or extremities (arms and legs) is often the first symptom experienced by those eventually diagnosed as having MS.
Diagnosis and early intervention
As optic neuritis is the presenting sign of MS in up to 30 percent of patients, the eye exam can lead to the initial systemic diagnosis.
MS is different for everybody and not every person diagnosed with MS will end up in a wheelchair. 80% of people with MS don't consider themselves as having severe symptoms or disabilities.
MS can weaken the muscles that control the lungs. Such respiratory issues are the major cause of sickness and death in people in the final stages of MS. Spasticity or an increase in stiffness and resistance as a muscle is moved can impair movement and cause pain and other problems.
Most people can enjoy a good quality of life with MS, especially if they have appropriate support. However, a person may need to make lifestyle adjustments in order to retain their quality of life.