Functional Changes With MS

The symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) can be put into three categories. The categories are based on the function of the body. The three function areas are: Sensory, Motor and Psychological or Neurological.

Each category has symptoms that relate to a function the body performs. Sensory symptoms affect how the body perceives the world around it. Touch is a sensory function. The symptoms in the sensory category are:

Abnormal sensations such as feeling numbness, tingling, pain, burning or itching

Visual problems like double vision, partial blindness, pain in one eye, dimmed or blurred vision, and loss of central vision

Lack of sensation in the vagina, difficulty reaching an orgasm, sexual impotence in males

Dizziness or vertigo, loss of balance

In the motor category the area of function that is affected is that of movement.

The symptoms in the motor category are:

Muscle weakness or clumsiness

Difficulty maintaining balance

Difficulty walking

Muscle tremors

Uncoordinated eye movements

Uncontrolled urination or bowel habits

Constipation

Stiffness

Unsteadiness

Unusual fatigue

The third category is psychological or neurological and the symptoms affect the ability of the person to function in a cognitive or emotional way.

The symptoms in this third category of psychological or neurological are:

Mood swings

Inappropriate giddiness or feelings of elation

Depression

An inability to control one's emotions (crying or laughing without any cause or reason)

An obvious or subtle mental impairment

MS is a progressive disease and as such, the symptoms will affect function mildly at first and then progressively have a greater impact on the person's ability to function in daily tasks at work, school or in the home.

The symptoms of the disease vary greatly from one person to another therefore the ability to function will also vary from one person with MS to another person with MS.

The person with MS may be in remission for weeks, months even years in which symptoms of the disease will become mild or subside in one category or all three. This period of remission for however long it lasts will allow the person to function better, but alas the disease is only in remission, relapse is sure to come. When relapse occurs, the symptoms will bring with them impaired function.

There is no way to determine the course of the disease or when remission and relapse will occur. The individual with MS will do best, if he/she works with their neurologist and other medical team members to design a treatment plan that will allow them to improve the quality of their life as much as possible so that they can maintain function in all areas of life for as long as possible.