Because there is no single test used to diagnose MS, an accurate diagnosis may be difficult and delayed. This is further complicated by the fact that no two patients have the same exact set of symptoms, and many of the common symptoms may mimic other illnesses or be overlooked in early stages.

While not all patients will experience the same set of symptoms, there are several common symptoms, which in combination, may signal that you have MS. If you are a woman experiencing any combination of the symptoms below, you should make an appointment to discuss with your doctor your risk factors and likelihood of having this or another chronic illness.

Muscle Dysfunction

Because MS attacks the nerves, many MS patients will experience a range of muscle problems in the disease’s early stages. These symptoms may include muscle spasms, or involuntary muscle contractions, numbness, or weakness in the limbs. Many MS patients will also experience difficulty with balance and coordination, have difficulty walking or experience a marked change in gait, or have difficulty moving arms and legs.

Vision Problems

One of the nerves most commonly attacked in MS patients is the optic nerve, so there are a range of vision problems that develop in many women with MS. They may include full or partial vision loss, commonly in one eye. You may develop blurred vision, poor contrast or color vision. Patients may also experience pain with eye movement or experience involuntary eye movements as a frightening early sign of the disease. If you develop these symptoms, you should schedule an appointment as quickly as possible, because it means that your body has attacked the optic nerve, and vision damage is irreversible. 

Chronic Fatigue

According to the MSAA, about 80 percent of patients with MS suffer from chronic fatigue, which can progress to become so severe that it interferes with their ability to function on a daily basis at home or at work. For an otherwise active and healthy woman, this may be the most prominent symptom of the disease, and one which may be confused with other illnesses, such as lupus.

Numbness or Pain

Another common early symptom for MS patients is numbness, tingling, or pain, which commonly occurs in the face, arms, legs, and torso. Because the disease attacks the nerves that send such signals to the brain, the sclerosis, or scarring, on the myelin or damage to nerve fibers can cause the body to send conflicting signals to and from the brain, or to halt those signals altogether, causing the most common symptom of MS -- numbness. Other patients experience burning sensation, or may develop chronic pain that is secondary to other complications from the disease, such as aches in the joints and legs or feet as a result of unsteady gait or difficulty walking.