Multiple Sclerosis Health Center

Multiple Sclerosis: Early Warning Signs

You should notify your physician if you have any of the signs and symptoms associated with MS. Also check with your doctor if you have any signs or symptoms that may not be associated but that are of concern to you. You may not have MS, but because of the nonspecific nature of this disease, it is best to let a qualified professional make that determination.

Several of the symptoms of MS may send you to a hospital's emergency department.

• If you experience visual changes and painful eye movements, visit the nearest emergency department. You could have optic neuritis, one of the most common early signs of MS. If you can be treated with corticosteroid medication shortly after optic neuritis develops, the course of the disease may be altered.
  
  
• If you have changes in personality, sudden loss of strength in the arms and legs, or respiratory difficulty, you should go to the emergency department for evaluation. These symptoms are common with MS, but they can also be signs of other serious diseases, such as stroke, infection, or chemical imbalances.