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Could it be MS?

Published Date:

November 7, 2024

Millennials and Gen Zs worry about many things, but at their age, health is often not one of them. At this stage, a tingle there or some fatigue are often brushed aside, but Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a disease that tends to onset between ages 20 and 40, is on the rise globally. Cases are up 30% from 2013 to 2020, with the incidence of MS in women doubling. Early detection is key to successful management of the disease.

Know the early warning signs

What is MS?

MS is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. It is believed to be an autoimmune disorder where the body mistakenly attacks itself. In MS, the immune system destroys the myelin, a fatty protein surrounding and protecting the nerves. The loss of myelin creates scar tissue called sclerosis. When the nerves are damaged in this way, they can’t conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain.

What are the early symptoms of MS?

One reason MS can be hard to diagnose is it often presents with a host of symptoms that vary from person to person. It’s not uncommon for someone to have MS for three to five years and never know because the symptoms aren’t specific and may simply appear as a change in mood or energy level. It isn’t until the second phase, known as clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) that more obvious signs of MS appear. Some of the first symptoms of MS are usually vision-related and include:

•    Blurred or double vision
•    Red-green color distortion
•    Pain and loss of vision due to swelling of the optic nerve
•    Trouble walking
•    Difficulty with balance
•    Numbness, prickling or pins and needles

Read Rich Payne’s story, his devastating MS diagnosis, and how SIU Medicine became his partner in getting his life back.

Other conditions that could indicate MS include:
•    Muscle weakness in the arms and legs
•    Trouble with coordination
•    Problems walking or standing
•    Partial or complete paralysis
•    Spasticity
•    Extreme Fatigue (This is one of the most common complaints with MS)
•    Speech problems
•    Tremors
•    Dizziness/Vertigo
•    Hearing loss
•    Bowel and bladder problems
•    Depression
•    Changes in sexual function
•    Cognitive Problems

Gender differences with MS

Women are three times more likely than men to develop MS and some early symptoms specific to women include vaginal dryness and amenorrhea, the absence of a period in pre-menopausal females.

MS symptoms specific to men include erectile dysfunction, problems with orgasm and decreased libido. Men are also more likely than women to experience balance and coordination issues and cognitive impairments.

Recent strides in MS

While MS isn’t curable, new medications have radically transformed the face of the disease. Medications can now help prevent MS scaring from occurring with 90-95% accuracy. However, these drugs can’t reverse prior damage, which is why early detection is so important.