Multiple Sclerosis is a disease, commonly known as MS, which affects the brain and spinal cord. MS symptoms vary with everyone, no two people have the exact same symptom patterns.
Unfortunately, the symptoms disappear and may not always reappear or they may come and linger for a while, which makes it hard to diagnose MS. Although it is more likely for whites get diagnosed with MS, it can be diagnosed faster within black patients.
On average, blacks are diagnosed a year after the first onset symptoms of MS whereas whites are diagnosed two years or more after first onset. Once MS is diagnosed, working with your doctor to treat and manage symptoms can help you live a healthier life.
Symptoms usually occur between the ages of 20 and 40. Doctors divide symptoms into three categories: primary, secondary, and tertiary.
Primary symptoms come from a damaging to the protective casing around the nerves in your spine or brain. The damage is called demyelination causing scarring, which makes it harder for signals to travel between the brain and the body:
- Bladder/ Bowels problems
- Loss of balance Numbness
- Paralysis
- Tingling
- Tremors
- Vision problems
- Weakness
Secondary symptoms follow the primary symptoms but can be avoided if the primary symptoms are treated properly.
Tertiary symptoms are the issues that are social, psychological and job-related to trying to cope with MS.