What are the symptoms?

MS is unpredictable. It varies from person to person and can result in a wide variety of symptoms, none of which are unique to MS. You may experience only a few symptoms and it is unlikely that you will develop them all. Unfortunately, it is impossible to predict what will happen during the course of anyone's MS.

Symptoms range from mild to severe, from brief to persistent. Some symptoms, such as walking difficulties, are obvious to other people; others, like pain or fatigue, are not. These are often referred to as hidden, invisible or silent symptoms, and can be more difficult for people unfamiliar with MS to understand.

The more common symptoms of MS include:

• Fatigue: an overwhelming sense of tiredness making physical or mental activity hard and, for some, impossible.
• Problems with walking, balance and coordination.
• Visual problems, including blurred or double vision, temporary loss of sight in one eye, or both.
• Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet.
• Dizziness.
• Pain: sometimes mild, sometimes severe.
• Loss of muscle strength and movement.
• Stiffness and spasms: a tightening or involuntary movement in particular muscle groups - especially in the legs.
• Anxiety,depression or mood swings.
• Cognitive problems, such as difficulty with memory and concentration.
• Speech problems, including slurring.
• Continence issues: a lack of control over bladder or bowel functions; an increased risk of urinary infection.
• Sexual problems, such as lack of libido or erectile difficulties. (Though it should be noted that MS does not affect fertility.)