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Experiencing symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) for the first time can be confusing and isolating, especially when you’re unsure of what’s happening. Early symptoms of MS — even when mild — usually represent a clear change from how you normally feel.

Ask a group of people living with multiple sclerosis about their first symptoms, and you’ll likely hear a wide variety of stories. Each MS diagnosis often begins with unique and personal experiences of early signs. While these initial manifestations can differ greatly from one person to another, some early MS symptoms are more common than others.

Here’s what you should know about the three most common early symptoms of MS.

1. Vision Changes

Vision issues are often an early sign of multiple sclerosis, with 1 in 4 people noticing a problem with their eyesight as their first symptom. Optic neuritis, a condition caused by inflammation of the optic nerve, is a common MS-related issue.

Early symptoms of MS may be mild, but if you are in tune with your body, you may understand that something is “off.”

“My first symptom was optic neuritis,” one MyMSTeam member shared. “I couldn’t see out of the right side of my eye and couldn’t cross the street by myself.”

Vision problems associated with MS may include:

• Blurred vision (usually in one eye)
• Pain, particularly with eye movement
• Changes in color perception or loss of color vision
• Sensations of seeing flashing lights
• Loss of vision
• Double vision

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, it’s important to consult your health care provider. New or worsening eye problems, especially those unresponsive to treatment, could be a sign of MS or another neurological disorder. Early evaluation can help guide appropriate treatment and care.

2. Muscle Weakness

Muscle weakness can be an early symptom of MS. One MyMSTeam member shared, “I went to pick up a coffee cup, and it slipped right out of my hands and shattered on the floor.” Another said, “I had difficulty lifting my left foot up, so I was tripping and scuffing everywhere.”

“The first symptoms I had were numb patches over my torso.”

— A MyMSTeam member

Although weakness can be attributable to excessive physical exertion or injury, people with MS can experience these sensations with no obvious cause. When muscle weakness is an early sign of MS, it typically occurs on one side of the body or from the waist down. If you feel unusually weak or have trouble with physical coordination for days, contact a health care professional.

Some members have reported that weakness becomes worse if they feel overheated. Read about how to manage heat sensitivity and MS.

3. Numbness and Tingling

The Multiple Sclerosis Foundation estimates that up to 55 percent of people with MS identify numbness, tingling, and other unusual sensations as some of the most common symptoms of MS attacks. Called dysesthesias, these altered sensations often present as the first symptoms in people with MS. “The first symptoms I had were numb patches over my torso,” one MyMSTeam member said.

“My right hip and buttock went numb,” another shared.

In addition to numbness, you may notice some of these sensations in your arms, legs, hands, or feet:

• Pins and needles
• Burning
• Sensitivity to touch

Early MS Symptoms in Men and Women

Many early symptoms of MS are the same for all people, regardless of sex or gender. However, these factors can also influence how a person experiences MS. Notably, multiple sclerosis is three times more common among women than men, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

According to Mass General Brigham, early indicators of MS in women include vaginal dryness, sexual dysfunction, and amenorrhea (absence of a period). Some women experience worse symptoms — such as depression, fatigue, and weakness — during menstruation, according to Mass General Brigham. During menopause, some women experience worse symptoms while others experience fewer relapses.

“I started losing my balance a lot. I had just returned from overseas and thought it was jet lag.”

— A MyMSTeam member

In men, early symptoms can include erectile dysfunction, a decrease in libido (sex drive), and anorgasmia (difficulty achieving orgasm), according to Mass General Brigham.

Compared to women, men are more likely to experience difficulties with coordination and balance and to develop cognitive issues affecting memory, learning, focus, and/or the ability to make decisions, per Mass General Brigham.

Stories About the First Signs of MS

Many members of MyMSTeam have reported that visual disturbances, numbness, or muscle weakness were early signs of MS in their lives. One member wrote, “I had weakness on my right side. An on-call general practitioner sent me to the emergency room in a taxi. Staff were waiting for me and treated me for a possible stroke. I spent 10 days in the hospital before I was diagnosed using an MRI scan.”

MyMSTeam members have also shared a wide range of other symptoms they experienced early on that helped in the identification of MS, including pain and mobility issues.

• “The tops of my feet hurt.”
• “I started losing my balance a lot. I had just returned from overseas, and I thought it was jet lag.”
• “I had terrible electric shocks down my spine when looking down.”
• “I started slowly dragging my right leg with numbness in my feet.”
• “I had random numbness that would affect different parts of my body and at different times.”
• “I started having simple partial seizures in my sleep.”
• “I lost my hearing in my right ear one day. It just shut off.”
• “I started slurring my speech and limping.”
• “I had vertigo.”
• “I woke up one morning numb from the waist down. I felt like I was walking on aluminum foil.”
• “I had sexual problems, and I felt like I had glass in the bottom of my feet when I went up stairs.”

These early symptoms led members to seek medical help that eventually led to their diagnoses. These are just a few examples of the first symptoms people can experience early in MS.

What To Do if You Notice Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

While visual disturbances, weakness, tingling, and numbness may be common early signs of MS, there is a wide range of sensations associated with MS that can be more subtle to identify. Neurological symptoms that affect the central nervous system in MS vary from person to person, and only a physician can make an accurate diagnosis.

Listen to your body. If you’re concerned that something doesn’t feel quite right, call your physician. Whether you’re experiencing eye issues, muscle weakness, headaches, vertigo, or bladder or bowel problems such as severe constipation or incontinence (difficulty controlling urination or defecation), it’s important to communicate your concerns immediately.

Advocate for yourself and be as specific as possible about your symptoms to ensure your doctor can make an accurate and timely diagnosis. You may be experiencing something unrelated to MS, or it may be a fleeting, temporary symptom. However, if a qualified neurologist has recently given you a diagnosis of MS, you can learn to manage your symptoms with appropriate MS treatment and healthy living strategies.

Although there’s no cure for MS, disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) can help modify the course of the disease and reduce flares. Ask your neurologist about other steps you can take to better manage symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Find Your Team

MyMSTeam is the social network for people with multiple sclerosis and their loved ones. On MyMSTeam, more than 217,000 members come together to ask questions, give advice, and share their stories with others who understand life with MS.

What were your earliest symptoms of MS? Comment below, post to your Activities page, or connect with like-minded members in Groups.

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