Patients who have MS have immune systems that attack myelin, a fatty substance that surrounds and insulates nerve fibers, as well as attacking the nerves themselves. As a result, the myelin forms scar tissue, called sclerosis, which can distort or interrupt the nerve impulses traveling to and from the brain and spinal cord, resulting in a range of symptoms.
Diagnosing the Disease
Because there is no single test for the disease, and because no two patients exhibit the same symptoms or severity of symptoms, this disease is also often difficult to diagnose. In fact, one patient will have varied and unpredictable symptoms, which will change over time. Among the symptoms that are common for MS patients, people who develop MS may experience:
● Fatigue
● Numbness and tingling in the face, torso or limbs
● Muscle weakness
● Dizziness or vertigo
● Spasticity or stiffness and involuntary muscle spasms in the extremities (most commonly in the legs)