Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system. It causes inflammation and damage to the brain and spinal cord. There are four types of multiple sclerosis: relapsing remitting, primary progressive, secondary progressive, and progressive relapsing.
Symptoms
Multiple sclerosis signs and symptoms may differ greatly from person to person and over the course of the disease depending on the location of affected nerve fibers. Symptoms often affect movement, such as:
- Numbness or weakness in one or more limbs that typically occurs on one side of your body at a time, or your legs and trunk
- Electric-shock sensations that occur with certain neck movements, especially bending the neck forward (Lhermitte sign)
- Tremor, lack of coordination or unsteady gait
Vision problems are also common, including:
- Partial or complete loss of vision, usually in one eye at a time, often with pain during eye movement
- Prolonged double vision
- Blurry vision
Multiple sclerosis symptoms may also include:
- Slurred speech
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Tingling or pain in parts of your body
- Problems with sexual, bowel and bladder function
For further information please see https://www.ms-society.ie/
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you experience any of the above symptoms for unknown reasons.
To see details of our First Aid Courses please see https://safetymatters.ie/course-details/first-aid-responder-training/
