What are the early signs of multiple sclerosis? - Online interview

In this interview, Dr Martin Wilson, a highly revered consultant neurologist, details what multiple sclerosis is, and outlines what the early warning signs of the debilitating illness are.

00:00 What is multiple sclerosis?
01:08 What causes multiple sclerosis? Does it run in families?
03:14 What are the early signs of multiple sclerosis?
05:16 When should you see a doctor?
06:18 How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed?

[__Wanderer]

One point on your last statement: "we start to talk about treatment with significant relapse number". This seems very backwards. ALL MS patients should be on preventative medication. Once the damage is done IT"S TOO LATE. Yes you may "look fine" and be able to manage with daily life but you may be accumulating serious lesion damage that is invisible. Only later on 10-20 years later when atrophy starts to kick in do you find you your brain no longer has the functional reserves to cope / pick up the slack from damaged areas.

[__Wanderer]

I was rather unlucky... my very first relapse led to permanent left eye blindness. Not just days or weeks sadly. Strange thing is prior to this I had never had any symptoms of MS whatsoever. My first attack of MS came 2-3 weeks after a covid infection. Diagnosis soon after as with the blindness I was put straight into an MRI where they found lesions.

[AlexA-zgmq]

The first time i got really worried by my ms symptoms, (before i was diagnosed) i had numb arm and leg on one side of my body.

Once i finished explaining my symptoms to the doc, they asked me. "What do you want me to do about it?"

I ingnored it after that. Every time it came. Im diagnosed now but i could have had more support over the last 3 years.

[sherristevens]

At 39 I had a spinal tsp.tap.. hurt like 👍 hell then mri right after. ✅️ truthful 👍 ✝️ ♥️ hang in there ya'll we're ms warriors not only that but we have made it this far. AMEN 💯 TRUTH

[kevinbaxter]

Did anyone or still is ongoing !
Suffer with knee buckling?
Can’t stand on tip toes ?
Can’t stand on back of heels?
Myself crutches, balance issues.
Otherwise trying the above will just collapse on floor .
Also right foot drop?
Thanks in advance 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[__Wanderer]

On the genetic factor when you talk about twins: perhaps there is a "higher risk " for the twin but could this not also be explained by likely having identical conditions when growing up? Similar food / house / exercise routines / location (in terms of sun exposure/vit d) etc. All of the variables could lead to a generally higher risk for both if they have the same living conditions. Could the genetic risk factor of relatives being more likely to have MS rather be misconstrued with having the same background / epigenetic triggers? So yes a relative may have higher risk, but not for genetic factors, rather similar circumstances perhaps leading to MS development...

[Roxannezauk]

Can Fibromyalgia be mistaken for MS if they have never been allowed an MRI to see if it’s possible? I can’t get my Doctor s to listen to me

[MustyBastard]

I am so confused, I have NF1 and Optic glioma and I am starting to think I have MS cause I am having incontinence issues and pricks in my fingers, going to bathroom 10 times or more at night. Weird pains in legs even when, I haven't been active. And most recently I have been really really clumsy and having jerking movements when laying down to rest. I am so tired all the time. I don't know. I can't handle another condition.

[haleyanderson]

Hmm, well I feel a bit better now. You didn't mention terrible stiffness in both legs, so maybe I'm worried about nothing. I'm on a waiting list to even see a neurologist and I was worried about MS, but my aura without headaches and bizarre leg stiffness doesn't sound like a match 🙂

[alleyes]

Hi everyone, i dont know if i am a bit worked up about the possibilities of me developing MS, I've had spondylosis a while and also cervical and lumbar stenosis, i am a bit apprehensive about possible spine surgery fusion or whatever the neurologist/surgeon think is best but i have a few different symptoms that i really dont know are myelopathy from stenosis or demyelination to do with MS, i have done some research and found that these can coexist which i really hope isnt the case because no surgeon would come near me, i mean it is pretty vague when it comes to cervical stenosis, medically they have done tests yeah but not very convincing if having stenosis actually makes you susceptible to developing MS, i am shiting myself to have another MRI incase they see lesions, i can deal with stenosis part because i can get my head round the surgery but not having both and not having either corrected with exception to a load of meds, anybody any advice please or more knowledge ?