Feature Friday- Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

2 posts in one day!?! How could you ever be sooo lucky?! While I'm off at the Rock 'n Roll Las Vegas Expo drooling over all the latest running gear, gadgets, and shoes I wanted to share with you a few possible symptoms of MS!

One thing that really strikes me about these symptoms of MS is how easily they can be mistaken for symptoms of other potential autoimmune diseases. From the research that I've done, it really seems like it could take months or even YEARS to diagnose some who has MS because doctors rule out other diagnoses before coming to the conclusion that it is multiple sclerosis. I cannot even imagine being in the position where you are in pain and there is not a similar test to tell you whether or not it is MS.

Because no two cases of MS are alike, doctors can only classify symptoms as either being 'more common' or 'less common', according to the information posted on National MS Society.

More Common Symptoms include:

Fatique
Walking difficulties
Numbness/tingling
Spasticity
Weakness
Vision Problems
Dizziness or vertigo
Bladder problems
Bowel problems
Sexual problems
Pain
Cognitive changes
Emotional Changes
Depression

Less Common Symptoms:

Speech Problems
Swallowing Problems
Tremor
Seizure
Breathing Problems
Itching
Headache
Hearing Loss

While reading through these symptoms, they can definitely resonate with me in regards to what my grandfather suffered from. He had so many of these symptoms including walking difficulties, speech problems, tremors, depression, numbness, pain, and bladder problems.

Also while going through this list, it brings about so many symptoms that I feel like anyone can have ANY DAY. That is why this disease is so scary to me because if the awareness for MS is not well-known, then I can only imagine how many others are suffering with the disease without even knowing about it. This is why I am so grateful to be given the chance to run with MS Run The US and raise AWARENESS of the disease while our relay runs across America.