MS can also increase the risk of depression , which can cause fatigue. Another type of fatigue that seems to be unique to MS is called lassitude. These issues occur when scars on the nerves impair nerve signaling that is necessary for the function of the urinary sphincters and bladder. MS can make it difficult for the bladder to hold urine and may reduce the amount that it can store, causing symptoms such as:. Bowel problems can make other MS symptoms — especially bladder problems, muscle stiffness, and involuntary muscle spasms — worse.
Some researchers believe that people with MS have problems controlling their bowels because of the neurological damage that the condition causes. Some people with MS may also have trouble controlling their bowels when they have constipation.
Females with MS may be more likely than males to experience pain as a symptom of this condition. Acute MS pain seems to be due to problems with the nerves that help transmit sensations in the central nervous system. Many people with MS also experience chronic pain as a secondary effect of the condition. For example, it could be due to:. The cognitive symptoms of MS are typically mild to moderate and only affect a few aspects of cognition. Clinical depression is one of the most common symptoms of MS.
Depression is more common in people with MS than in people with other chronic health conditions. Although almost everyone experiences periods of sadness or grief, clinical depression refers to depressive symptoms that last for a minimum of 2 weeks. Many people with MS also experience muscle weakness. This symptom is due to damage to the nerve fibers that help control muscles.
People with MS may also experience muscle weakness because a lack of use has caused their muscles to become deconditioned over time. MS-related muscle weakness can affect any part of the body. It can be especially challenging for people with MS to walk and stay mobile when muscle weakness affects their legs, ankles, and feet. MS can cause spasticity, which refers to muscle stiffness and involuntary muscle spasms in the extremities, especially the legs.
Some people with MS experience dizziness and the sensation of being lightheaded, woozy, weak, or faint. Less commonly, they may experience vertigo , which makes it feel as though they or their surroundings are spinning. MS may cause vertigo by damaging the pathways that coordinate the spatial, visual, and sensory input that the brain needs to maintain balance in the body.
People with MS often experience sexual problems and may find it difficult to become aroused or have an orgasm. For example, MS may reduce natural vaginal lubrication, potentially making sexual intercourse painful for females. The condition can also cause sexual problems by damaging nerves in the sexual response pathways that connect the brain and the sexual organs.
Self-help may play an important role in pain control; people who stay active and maintain positive attitudes seem more able to reduce the impact of pain on their quality of life. Download the MS in focus magazine you will need Acrobat Reader to view these files :. Like many people with MS, Stefania Salzillo finds it difficult to cope with the daily injections of Interferon-b. Her boyfriend, Ernesto Lodice, helps out providing both practical and emotional support. But access to medication was relatively quick: she received her first prescription within two months of being diagnosed.
Credit: Walter Astrada. Published on this website by kind permission of the European Multiple Sclerosis Platform. Blind and virtually paralysed from the neck down, Nicolai is mentally sharp. While the physical burden of care is heavy for Alena, the couple continue to share a loving relationship. Click here to read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. Why does pain occur in MS and what are the common types?
The most common pain syndromes experienced by people with MS include: headache seen more in MS than the general population continuous burning pain in the extremities back pain painful tonic spasms a cramping, pulling pain Experts usually describe pain caused by MS as musculoskeletal, paroxysmal or chronic neurogenic. Some people with MS worry they will become dependent on a cane, walker, or wheelchair if they start using one of these mobility aids.
In reality, these devices can be used to save leg strength for when it really counts. Leg weakness can increase throughout the day as fatigue sets in. Using a mobility aid in one situation — like using a wheelchair at the airport — may mean legs are stronger later in the day for some other activity. In some cases, rest and pacing physical activity are the best options.
At least I have no appointments today. By joining MyMSTeam, the social network and online support group for those living with multiple sclerosis, you gain a support group more than , members strong.
More than 38, MyMSTeam members report weakness as a symptom on their member profiles, and leg weakness is one of the most discussed topics. Do your legs ever feel like jelly, noodles, or cement? What are the best ways you have found to cope with leg weakness? Share your experiences in the comments below or directly on MyMSTeam. Hi my legs get weak and my right leg gets very tired, and someday it's like dragging a cement block around with me.
I do pt and exercise but it doesn't seem to be clicking with my brain that the… read more. Connect with others who understand. Connect with others living with multiple sclerosis.
Medically reviewed by Alissa Willis, M. Article written by Kelly Crumrin. Get more articles like this! Subscribe to receive the latest articles about multiple sclerosis. That doesn't seem to be a valid email address. You're in! Fatigue can significantly interfere with your daily activities and tends to get worse towards the end of each day, in hot weather, after exercising, or during illness.
In around 1 in 4 cases of MS, the first noticeable symptom is a problem with one of your eyes optic neuritis. This often takes the form of numbness or tingling in different parts of your body, such as the arms, legs or trunk, which typically spreads out over a few days. MS can make walking and moving around difficult, particularly if you also have muscle weakness and spasticity. Back, neck and joint pain can be indirectly caused by MS, particularly for people who have problems walking or moving around that puts pressure on their lower back or hips.
Some people with MS have problems with thinking, learning and planning, known as cognitive dysfunction. But many of these problems aren't specific to MS and can be caused by a wide range of other conditions, including depression and anxiety, or even some medicines.
Many people with MS experience periods of depression. It's unclear whether this is directly caused by MS or the result of the stress of having to live with a long-term condition, or both. Anxiety can also be a problem for people with MS, possibly because of the unpredictable nature of the condition. In rare cases, people with MS can experience rapid and severe mood swings, suddenly bursting into tears, laughing, or shouting angrily for no apparent reason.
Men with MS often find it hard to obtain or maintain an erection erectile dysfunction. They may also find it takes a lot longer to ejaculate when having sex or masturbating, and may even lose the ability to ejaculate altogether.
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