What conditions are commonly misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis. How can doctors differentiate between MS and similar diseases. Why is accurate diagnosis crucial for proper treatment of neurological disorders.

The Challenge of Diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis remains a complex process, with no single definitive test available. A 2019 study published in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders revealed that nearly 20% of individuals with other neurological conditions are initially misdiagnosed with MS. This high rate of misdiagnosis stems from the varied and often overlapping symptoms of MS with other disorders.

To diagnose MS, physicians rely on a combination of factors:

• Patient’s medical history
• Neurological examination results
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans
• Spinal tap (lumbar puncture) in some cases

Dr. Devon Conway, a neurologist at the Mellen MS Center in Cleveland, explains that while some cases are clear-cut, others remain ambiguous, requiring extended observation and repeated imaging to reach a definitive diagnosis.

The Prevalence of MS Misdiagnosis

Dr. Jeffrey Cohen, director of experimental therapeutics at the Mellen MS Center, emphasizes that MS misdiagnosis has been a persistent issue for four decades. Despite advancements in diagnostic criteria and technologies like MRI, the problem persists due to the absence of a simple, definitive test for MS.

Why is accurate diagnosis so crucial? Misdiagnosis can lead to inappropriate treatment, potentially worsening the patient’s condition and delaying proper care. Understanding the diseases that mimic MS is essential for healthcare providers to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plans.

Fibromyalgia: A Common MS Mimicker

Fibromyalgia shares several symptoms with MS, making it a frequent source of misdiagnosis. These overlapping symptoms include:

• Headaches
• Joint and muscle pain
• Numbness and tingling in extremities
• Memory problems
• Fatigue

Both conditions predominantly affect women. However, a key difference lies in MRI results. While MS typically shows characteristic brain or spinal lesions, fibromyalgia generally does not cause these specific types of lesions. It’s important to note that some fibromyalgia patients may have abnormal MRI results for other reasons, further complicating the diagnostic process.

Differentiating Fibromyalgia from MS

How can doctors distinguish between fibromyalgia and MS? While MRI is a crucial tool, additional tests and clinical observations are often necessary. These may include:

1. Tender point examination
2. Blood tests to rule out other conditions
3. Assessment of symptom patterns and duration
4. Evaluation of response to specific treatments

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD): A Crucial Differential Diagnosis

Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD) is an inflammatory disease that, like MS, attacks the myelin sheaths of nerve fibers. However, NMOSD primarily affects the optic nerves and spinal cord, often sparing the brain in its early stages.

NMOSD symptoms can closely resemble those of MS but may also include:

• Sudden vision loss or pain in one or both eyes
• Numbness or loss of sensation in the arms and legs
• Difficulty controlling bladder and bowels
• Uncontrollable vomiting and hiccups

Why is distinguishing between NMOSD and MS critical? MS treatments can be ineffective or even harmful for NMOSD patients, underscoring the importance of accurate diagnosis. The NMO IgG antibody blood test is a valuable tool in differentiating between these two conditions.

NMOSD vs MS: Key Diagnostic Considerations

To accurately diagnose NMOSD and distinguish it from MS, doctors consider several factors:

1. Pattern of lesions on MRI (more extensive in spinal cord for NMOSD)
2. Presence of NMO-IgG antibodies
3. Severity and nature of visual symptoms
4. Response to standard MS treatments

Small Vessel Ischemic Disease: The MS Look-Alike

Small vessel ischemic disease, also known as cerebral small vessel disease, is a condition related to stroke. It results from the hardening of small arteries in the brain, leading to localized brain injury. This condition can cause symptoms that overlap with MS, including:

• Disability
• Abnormal gait
• Urinary incontinence
• Cognitive decline

On MRI scans, small vessel ischemic disease can produce spots that may be mistaken for MS lesions. This similarity in imaging results makes careful clinical correlation essential for accurate diagnosis.

Distinguishing Features of Small Vessel Ischemic Disease

How can healthcare providers differentiate between small vessel ischemic disease and MS? Several key factors come into play:

1. Patient age (small vessel disease is more common in older adults)
2. Presence of cardiovascular risk factors
3. Pattern and distribution of lesions on MRI
4. Progression of symptoms over time

Sarcoidosis: The Multi-System Mimicker

Sarcoidosis is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organ systems. While it primarily targets the lungs, lymph nodes, and skin, sarcoidosis can occasionally cause inflammatory changes in the brain and spinal cord, leading to symptoms that mimic MS.

Common symptoms of sarcoidosis that may overlap with MS include:

• Fatigue
• Decreased vision
• Neurological symptoms (when the central nervous system is involved)

Additional symptoms more specific to sarcoidosis include:

• Cough or wheezing
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Skin lesions or discoloration

Sarcoidosis vs MS: Diagnostic Approaches

Differentiating between sarcoidosis and MS requires a comprehensive diagnostic approach:

1. Chest X-ray or CT scan to detect lung involvement
2. Biopsy of affected tissues
3. Serum ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) levels
4. Specialized MRI techniques to distinguish inflammatory patterns

Vitamin Deficiencies: Overlooked MS Mimickers

Certain vitamin deficiencies can produce symptoms strikingly similar to those of MS. Two notable deficiencies are Vitamin B12 and Copper.

Vitamin B12 Deficiency

Vitamin B12 deficiency can cause a range of neurological symptoms that may be mistaken for MS, including:

• Fatigue
• Mental confusion
• Numbness and tingling in extremities
• Balance problems
• Vision changes

Copper Deficiency

While less common, copper deficiency can also produce MS-like symptoms:

• Weakness in the arms and legs
• Difficulty walking
• Vision problems
• Cognitive issues

How can doctors distinguish between these deficiencies and MS? Blood tests for vitamin B12 and copper levels are crucial diagnostic tools. Additionally, these deficiencies typically do not produce the characteristic lesions seen in MS on MRI scans.

The Importance of Differential Diagnosis in MS

Given the complexity of MS diagnosis and the numerous conditions that can mimic its symptoms, a thorough differential diagnosis is crucial. This process involves systematically considering and ruling out various possible causes of a patient’s symptoms.

Why is differential diagnosis so important in suspected MS cases?

• Ensures appropriate treatment: MS treatments may be ineffective or harmful for other conditions
• Prevents unnecessary medication: Avoids exposing patients to potentially serious side effects of MS drugs
• Enables timely treatment: Allows for prompt initiation of correct treatment for the actual underlying condition
• Reduces patient anxiety: Provides clarity and direction for patients experiencing concerning symptoms

Steps in MS Differential Diagnosis

The process of differential diagnosis for suspected MS typically includes:

1. Comprehensive medical history review
2. Detailed neurological examination
3. MRI scans of the brain and spinal cord
4. Blood tests to rule out other conditions
5. Lumbar puncture (in some cases) to analyze cerebrospinal fluid
6. Visual evoked potentials to assess optic nerve function
7. Additional specialized tests as needed based on presenting symptoms

Emerging Technologies in MS Diagnosis

As the challenge of accurately diagnosing MS persists, researchers and clinicians continue to explore new technologies and techniques to improve diagnostic accuracy. Some promising areas of development include:

Advanced Imaging Techniques

Newer MRI technologies offer enhanced resolution and specificity in detecting and characterizing brain and spinal cord lesions. These include:

• 7T MRI: Provides ultra-high-resolution images for better lesion detection
• Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI): Assesses white matter integrity
• Magnetization Transfer Ratio (MTR): Measures myelin content

Biomarker Research

Scientists are investigating various biomarkers that could aid in MS diagnosis and differentiation from other conditions. Potential biomarkers include:

• Neurofilament light chain (NfL) in blood or cerebrospinal fluid
• MicroRNAs
• Specific antibodies or protein patterns

Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

AI algorithms are being developed to analyze complex datasets, including:

• MRI scans for more accurate lesion detection and characterization
• Clinical data to identify patterns indicative of MS or alternative diagnoses
• Integration of multiple data sources for improved diagnostic accuracy

The Role of Patient Advocacy in Accurate MS Diagnosis

While medical professionals play a crucial role in diagnosing MS, patients themselves can be powerful advocates for their own health. How can patients contribute to ensuring an accurate diagnosis?

• Keep detailed symptom records: Note the nature, duration, and triggers of symptoms
• Communicate clearly: Provide a comprehensive health history to healthcare providers
• Ask questions: Seek clarification on diagnostic procedures and results
• Seek second opinions: Especially in cases of diagnostic uncertainty
• Stay informed: Learn about MS and potential mimicking conditions

Patient Support and Resources

Various organizations offer support and information for individuals navigating the complex process of MS diagnosis:

• National Multiple Sclerosis Society
• Multiple Sclerosis Association of America
• MS International Federation

These organizations provide educational resources, support groups, and guidance on finding MS specialists.

The Future of MS Diagnosis: Challenges and Opportunities

As our understanding of MS and its mimicking conditions evolves, so too does the landscape of MS diagnosis. What challenges and opportunities lie ahead in improving diagnostic accuracy?

Challenges

• Increasing recognition of MS mimics and overlapping conditions
• Balancing the need for early diagnosis with the risk of misdiagnosis
• Addressing healthcare disparities in access to advanced diagnostic technologies
• Integrating rapidly evolving research findings into clinical practice

Opportunities

• Development of more specific and sensitive diagnostic tests
• Improved integration of clinical, imaging, and laboratory data
• Enhanced collaboration between neurologists and other specialists
• Personalized medicine approaches to diagnosis and treatment

The field of MS diagnosis continues to evolve, driven by advances in medical technology, expanding research, and a growing understanding of the complexities of neurological disorders. As we move forward, the goal remains clear: to provide accurate, timely diagnoses that enable optimal care for individuals affected by MS and related conditions.

16 Conditions That May Be Mistaken for Multiple Sclerosis

Getting a correct diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) can be a challenge. In fact, a study published in May 2019 in the journal Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders suggested that nearly 1 in 5 people with other neurologic conditions are mistakenly diagnosed with MS.

These errors in diagnosis likely result from the fact that there is no single test that can determine an MS diagnosis conclusively. Also, not everyone has all of the common symptoms of MS, such as numbness, tingling, pain, fatigue, and heat sensitivity. And to complicate matters, the symptoms you do have may resemble those of some other conditions.

To figure out what’s causing possible MS symptoms, doctors look at your medical history, the results of a neurological exam, and a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan — and sometimes do a spinal tap (also called a lumbar puncture). To accurately diagnose MS, many other possible causes must be considered and excluded.

There are situations when it’s fairly clear that someone does — or doesn’t — have MS, says Devon Conway, MD, a neurologist at the Mellen MS Center in Cleveland. “Then sometimes there are cases where it’s a little more ambiguous; we are considering the possibility of MS but haven’t come to a definitive decision yet. Sometimes it’s necessary to observe the patient and their imaging to try to make a more definitive decision on whether they have MS or not,” says Dr. Conway.

“Misdiagnosis in MS has been an issue that’s been talked about for 40 years,” adds Jeffrey Cohen, MD, director of experimental therapeutics at the Mellen MS Center of the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio. “And even with refinement of diagnostic criteria and the availability of technologies like MRI, it’s still a problem. There are a significant number of people getting misdiagnosed with MS in part because there’s no single test for it, like a blood test.”

Conway agrees, saying, “It’s fairly common to have a misdiagnosis of MS; there’s been a fair amount of research about the need to sometimes ‘undiagnose’ patients. ”

There are several conditions that may be misdiagnosed as MS, some being more likely than others.

Diseases More Likely to Be Misdiagnosed as MS

Similar symptoms may lead to confusion between MS and these diseases, although in most cases, an MRI scan of the brain can rule out MS as the diagnosis — but not always.

1. Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia and MS have some similar symptoms, including headaches, joint and muscle pain, numbness and tingling of extremities, memory problems, and fatigue. Like MS, fibromyalgia is more common in women than in men. But, says Conway, fibromyalgia wouldn’t be expected to cause the types of brain or spinal lesions seen on an MRI scan of a person with MS — but sometimes people with fibromyalgia have abnormal MRI results for other reasons.

2. Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder (NMOSD)

NMOSD is an inflammatory disease that, like multiple sclerosis, attacks the myelin sheaths — the protective covering of the nerve fibers — of the optic nerves and spinal cord, says Conway. But unlike MS, it usually spares the brain in its early stages.

Symptoms of NMOSD can be similar to MS but can also include sudden vision loss or pain in one or both eyes, numbness or loss of sensation in the arms and legs, difficulty controlling the bladder and bowels, and uncontrollable vomiting and hiccups, according to Oregon Health and Sciences University.

Treatments for MS are ineffective for and can even worsen NMOSD, so getting an accurate diagnosis is extremely important. A blood test known as the NMO IgG antibody test can help to differentiate between MS and NMOSD.

3. 

Small Vessel Ischemic Disease

Small vessel ischemic disease is a “cousin” of stroke, says Conway. “It’s basically injury that occurs to areas of the brain because of hardenings of the small arteries,” he says.

Also called cerebral small vessel disease, this condition can cause disability, abnormal gait, urinary incontinence, and cognitive decline. “On an MRI, the changes that small vessel ischemic disease causes can look like spots that could be mistaken for MS spots,” says Conway.

4. Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is another inflammatory autoimmune disease that shares some symptoms with MS, including fatigue and decreased vision. But sarcoidosis most commonly affects the lungs, lymph nodes, and skin, causing a cough or wheezing, swollen lymph nodes, and lumps, sores, or areas of discoloration on the skin.

“Although this condition primarily affects the lungs, it can sometimes cause inflammatory changes in the brain and spinal cord which can be mistaken for MS,” says Conway.

5. Vitamin B12 deficiency or Copper Deficiency

A vitamin B12 deficiency can cause MS-like symptoms, says Conway. These symptoms can include fatigue, mental confusion, and numbness and tingling in the hands and feet. That’s because vitamin B12 plays a role in the metabolism of fatty acids needed to maintain the myelin sheath. Vitamin B12 deficiency can be identified with a simple blood test.

A deficiency of the mineral copper can also cause symptoms similar to those of a vitamin B12 deficiency.

Diseases Somewhat Likely to Be Misdiagnosed as MS

While overlapping symptoms may lead doctors to think the following diseases might be MS, they are generally less likely to be misdiagnosed as MS than those listed above.

6. Migraine

Migraine is a neurological disease that can cause intense, throbbing headaches; sensitivity to light, sounds, or smells; nausea and vomiting; blurred vision; and light-headedness and fainting.

In the study published in Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders in May 2019, researchers from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and the University of California in Los Angeles (UCLA) found that migraine was the most common correct diagnosis in study subjects who had been misdiagnosed with MS, occurring in 16 percent of the group.

That said, headaches — and headaches caused by migraine in particular — can be the first manifestation of MS, according to a study published in December 2017 in Brain and Behavior.

Migraine can also be difficult to diagnose, and doctors use some of the same tools to diagnose migraine as they do for MS, including taking a medical history and performing a thorough neurological examination.

An MRI can help distinguish between the two diseases, but not always, says Conway. “Both MS and migraine patients can have white matter changes on their MRI, although we can usually, but not always, distinguish between these,” he says.

RELATED: MS and Migraine: What’s the Connection?

7. Spondylopathies

Spondylopathies are a collection of disorders of the vertebrae that usually involve inflammation, such as ankylosing spondylitis. “These conditions are basically degenerative changes in the back and sometimes exert pressure on the spinal cord,” says Conway.

Although spondylopathies may cause symptoms such as joint pain and fatigue that are similar to MS, the MRI images are usually not really consistent with MS, so that’s how we often make the distinction, he says.

In the Cedars-Sinai-UCLA research reported in May 2019, as many as 7 percent of MS misdiagnoses were really spondylopathies

8. Conversion and Psychogenic Disorders

Conversion and psychogenic disorders are conditions in which psychological stress is converted into a physical problem — such as blindness or paralysis — for which no medical cause can be found. In a study published in September 2016 in the journal Neurology, 11 percent of subjects definitely or probably misdiagnosed with MS actually had a conversion or psychogenic disorder.

Although this misdiagnosis can be made, generally these disorders don’t have MRI changes associated with them, so that would argue against MS, says Conway. “Some of these patients might have incidental MRI changes that are not really consistent with MS, but they have the spots and they have the symptoms, and so they can get misdiagnosed.”

9. Vasculitis

Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels that, depending on the type of vasculitis, can cause symptoms often seen in MS, such as fatigue; headache; numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hands and feet; and double vision.

However, other symptoms of vasculitis, such as fever, stomach pain after eating, swelling or hardening of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, and bleeding under the skin, would not be characteristic of MS.

Vasculitis affecting the skin or bodily organs, like the kidneys, can be diagnosed by examining samples of tissue collected from that area. Some types of vasculitis can also be diagnosed via X-rays or blood tests.

Vasculitis is a rare condition, which makes misdiagnosing it as MS less likely, says Conway. “The changes on the MRIs of people with vasculitis are different from the changes we would see in MS. We can usually distinguish between the two,” he says.

10. Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)

ADEM is a severe inflammatory attack affecting the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include fever, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, vision loss, and difficulty walking. A very rare condition, ADEM typically comes on rapidly, often after a viral or bacterial infection.

ADEM can appear very similar to MS, but ADEM is most commonly a disease of childhood and usually fairly easily distinguishable for MS at presentation, says Conway.

Diseases Less Likely to Be Misdiagnosed as MS

While these diseases may have some symptoms that are similar to those of MS, they also have enough characteristics that are different from MS that misdiagnosing one for the other should happen only rarely.

11. Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection transmitted through a tick bite. Early symptoms include fatigue, fever, headaches, and muscle and joint aches. Later symptoms can include numbness and tingling in the hands and feet, as well as cognitive problems, such as short-term memory loss and speech issues. If you live in an area that’s known to have Lyme disease or have recently traveled to one, your doctor will want to rule out the possibility.

12. Neuropathy

In the Cedars-Sinai-UCLA study, neuropathy, or nerve damage, was the correct diagnosis for 7 percent of those misdiagnosed with MS.

Both MS and neuropathy involve nerve damage, but whereas MS impacts the central nervous system (CNS), neuropathy usually refers to peripheral neuropathy, or damage to the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord (which make up the CNS). Peripheral nerves connect the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body.

Peripheral neuropathy is particularly common in people with diabetes, because high blood glucose levels damage the peripheral nerves.

People with neuropathy may experience loss of coordination, muscle weakness, or difficulty walking or moving their arms or legs, similar to people with MS. However, there are several kinds of neuropathy — sensory, motor, and autonomic — each with their own set of symptoms, and it’s usually fairly easy for a neurologist to distinguish between those two, says Conway. “Although they can produce similar symptoms, the clinical picture is usually a lot different.”

13. Lupus

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disorder that, like MS, affects more women than men. It can cause muscle pain, joint swelling, fatigue, and headaches. The hallmark symptom of lupus is a butterfly-shaped rash covering the cheeks and bridge of the nose, but only about half of people with lupus develop this rash. There is no single diagnostic test for lupus, and because its symptoms are similar to those of many other conditions, it is sometimes called “the great imitator.”

Rheumatologists (physicians specializing in diseases of the muscles and joints) typically diagnose lupus based on a number of laboratory tests and the number of symptoms characteristic of lupus that a person has.

“Although lupus can affect the nervous system, it’s rare. The changes that we would see in an MRI are usually a little different than what we would see with MS,” says Conway.

14. Stroke

A stroke occurs when a portion of the brain stops receiving a steady supply of blood, and consequently doesn’t get the oxygen and nutrients it needs to survive. Symptoms of a stroke generally evolve rapidly and include loss of vision; loss of feeling in the limbs, usually on one side of the body; difficulty walking; and difficulty speaking. All of these signs can also occur as part of an MS flare, or exacerbation, but there’s a crucial difference.

“The presentation of stroke tends to be very different, because it’s very acute in its onset, and MS is usually a slower process,” says Conway.

The age of the person experiencing the symptoms can also help to pin down the correct diagnosis. While MS can occur at any age, the likelihood of having a stroke goes up with age, while the likelihood of developing MS goes down.

A stroke requires immediate attention; if you think you’re experiencing a stroke, call 911.

15. Sjogren’s Syndrome

In the autoimmune disorder Sjogren’s syndrome, the glands that produce tears and saliva are mistakenly attacked by the immune system, which in turn causes the hallmark symptoms of dry eyes and mouth.

The condition does have shared symptoms with MS, including fatigue and musculoskeletal pain, and, like MS, it is more commonly found in women than in men, says Cohen.

However, this misdiagnosis is unlikely because Sjogren’s is a fairly rare condition, and it would only be a subset of patients whose Sjogren’s would mimic MS, says Conway.

16. Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes muscle weakness that typically comes and goes but tends to progress over time. The weakness is caused by a defect in the transmission of nerve impulses to muscles.

In many people, the first signs of myasthenia gravis are drooping eyelids and double vision. Like MS, it can also cause difficulty with walking, speaking, chewing, and swallowing. If a doctor suspects you have myasthenia gravis, a number of tests can help to confirm or rule out the diagnosis.

How a person responds to certain medicines can also aid in the diagnosis. If an anticholinesterase medicine dramatically improves muscle weakness for a brief period, it confirms a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis.

“Myasthenia gravis a disease of the peripheral nervous system,” says Conway. “It’s fairly rare that this condition would be mistaken for MS,” because “patients who have it would present differently in a physical exam.”

Additional reporting by Beth W. Orenstein and Brian P. Dunleavy.

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Conditions That Can Seem Like MS

Written by Alexandra Benisek

• Epstein-Barr Virus
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency
• Diabetes
• Nerve Damage
• Eye Problems
• Stroke
• Lupus and Other Autoimmune Diseases
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Lyme Disease
• Myasthenia Gravis
• ALS
• Guillain-Barre Syndrome
• ADEM
• More

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a long-lasting disease that affects the nerves in your brain and spinal cord. It’s often hard to diagnose because symptoms vary so much from person to person. They can be mild or serious. They may come and go, or they may get worse over time.

Also, many other conditions have symptoms similar to those of MS. They include:

• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Numbness
• Vision problems
• Trouble walking

Your doctor will need to rule out these other conditions before diagnosing you with MS.

One condition that can also cause long-lasting fatigue is the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). It’s a common type of herpes virus usually spread through body fluids, like spit. It’s probably best known for causing mononucleosis, or “mono.” Most people will get Epstein-Barr sometime during their lives.

Along with fatigue, EBV symptoms include:

• Head and body aches
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Swollen spleen or liver
• Inflamed lymph nodes in your neck
• Rash

EBV often infects children, who usually have mild or no symptoms. Teenagers and adults may show more clear signs of EBV. Most symptoms tend to clear up in 2-4 weeks, but the fatigue may last for many weeks or months. Once you have this virus, it stays in your body. It can reactivate, and it may or may not cause symptoms.

If you don’t get enough vitamin B12, you might end up with symptoms that look like those of MS.

Vitamin B12 helps your body make red blood cells, DNA, and nerves, among other things. Your body doesn’t make this vitamin naturally. You get it through animal foods (like meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy), foods with B12 added to them, or supplements.

Most adults need 2.4 micrograms of B12 each day. But some people either don’t take in this much, or their bodies don’t absorb enough. If you have a B12 deficiency, you could:

• Feel tingling or numbness in your hands, legs, or feet
• Get very tired and weak
• Have a hard time walking
• Have trouble thinking
• Get a swollen tongue
• Become anemic

The symptoms can come on quickly or gradually.

When you have diabetes, you have too much sugar in your blood. This can lead to serious health issues. With this condition, you may:

• Be very tired or cranky
• Feel hungrier and thirstier
• Pee more
• Lose weight for no reason
• Have blurred vision, slow-healing wounds, or repeated infections

Diabetes can also damage your nerves, a condition called diabetic neuropathy. This can cause numbness, tingling, or pain in your feet and legs. You might also have issues with your urinary tract, heart, digestive system, or blood vessels.

Like MS, diabetes may also lead to vision problems. They result from damage to blood vessels in your eyes. This condition is called diabetic retinopathy.

Type 1 diabetes usually starts when you’re a child or in your teens. Type 2 diabetes is more common in people over 40.

Other things can also cause neuropathy (nerve damage). It can affect you at any age, but people over 65 are more at risk. Along with diabetes and MS, the causes include:

• Injuries
• Immune system disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis
• Infections
• Certain medications (such as chemotherapy) or toxic substances like lead
• Disorders of your circulation (vascular) system
• Alcoholism
• Kidney or liver conditions

Symptoms of neuropathy vary, depending on where in your body the damaged nerves are. Some of the most common symptoms are:

• Tingling
• Numbness
• Muscle weakness
• Pain
• Loss of balance
• Muscle twitches
• Not being able to move a part of your body
• Sweating too much or too little
• Weight loss
• Sexual problems
• Bladder or bowel problems

Many eye issues can cause blurred vision or vision loss, which are also symptoms of MS. Some of the most common ones are:

• Refractive issues (near- and farsightedness)
• Age-related macular degeneration
• Diabetic eye damage
• Amblyopia, or “lazy eye”
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma

Your symptoms will depend on what eye condition you have. But they might include having a hard time reading or driving, trouble seeing at night, or cloudy-looking eyes.

You have a stroke when one of the blood vessels that carries nutrients and oxygen to your brain gets blocked or ruptures. This kills some of your brain cells. In serious cases, strokes can leave you disabled or lead to death.

Symptoms of stroke include:

• Weakness or numbness (especially on just one side of your body)
• Trouble walking
• Confusion
• Problems with speaking or understanding
• Vision trouble
• Dizziness
• An intense headache for no reason

Stroke symptoms happen very suddenly. Get medical help at once if you have them.

Anyone can have a stroke. But they’re more likely in people over 55 and those with other health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease.

Several autoimmune diseases have symptoms that mimic those of MS. An autoimmune disease is one in which your immune system attacks your body’s tissues and organs.

One of the more common autoimmune conditions is lupus. It causes inflammation that affects your skin, joints, brain, kidneys, heart, blood cells, and lungs. In some cases, you get a rash across both cheeks.

Symptoms of lupus include:

• Extreme fatigue
• Fever
• Joint inflammation or pain
• Fingers or toes that turn white or blue at low temperatures
• Chest pain
• Dry eyes
• Shortness of breath
• Headaches
• Memory loss and confusion

Women are more likely to get lupus. It’s usually diagnosed when you’re 15-45 years old.

This nervous system disorder affects your movement. Symptoms start gradually and get worse over time. They differ from person to person but may include:

• Trouble walking
• Trembling
• Slowed movement
• Muscle stiffness
• Problems with posture and balance
• Changes in speech and writing

Symptoms usually begin on one side of your body and affect that side more intensely, even when you have symptoms on both sides.

Most people who get Parkinson’s are 60 or older. It’s more common in men.

You get this disease through a bite from a deer tick, so it usually happens after you’ve spent time in or near the woods. If not treated, Lyme disease can affect your heart, joints, and nervous system.

Common symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Numbness or tingling in your arms, legs, hands, or feet
• Headache
• Fever
• Skin rash in the area of the tick bite

This immune system disorder causes a breakdown in communication between your muscles and nerves. That leads to muscle weakness and fatigue.

It affects only the muscles you control voluntarily. It most commonly causes problems in your:

• Eyes
• Arms and legs
• Face and throat
• Neck

The muscle weakness tends to get better after you rest. So symptoms can come and go. But they usually get worse over time.

You can get myasthenia gravis at any age, but it’s more common in women under 40 and men over 60.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease) affects your brain and spinal cord. Eventually, it causes you to lose control of your muscles.

You may first notice twitching muscles, weakness in your arms or legs, or slurred speech. Other symptoms include:

• Trouble walking
• Weakness in your legs, feet, or hands
• Muscle cramps
• A hard time swallowing
• Changes in your behavior
• Random laughing, crying, or yawning

There’s no cure for ALS. Over time, it makes you less able to speak, eat, move, and breathe.

ALS may run in families. It’s most often diagnosed in people ages 40-65.

This immune system disorder attacks your nerves. It may start with tingling or weakness in your arms and legs and spread to your upper body.

You may also have:

• Trouble walking or climbing stairs
• Double vision
• Loss of facial expression
• A hard time eating
• Body aches and cramps
• Bladder and bowel issues
• Fast heart rate
• High or low blood pressure
• Breathing problems

Eventually, it can paralyze your whole body. If you have it, you’ll likely need to spend time in the hospital. There’s no cure, but most people recover. The majority are able to walk after 6 months.

Doctors don’t know what causes Guillain-Barre syndrome. But many people who get it had an infection (such as a respiratory or digestive system infection) a few weeks before.

Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) is a rare brain and nervous system disorder that can follow a viral or bacterial infection (like an upper respiratory infection). Doctors believe it’s an immune reaction to the infection.

Anyone can get it, but it most often affects children. It commonly causes headaches and fever.

Other symptoms may include:

• Weakness in your arms and legs
• Tingling and numbness
• Vision problems
• Loss of balance
• Confusion
• Trouble swallowing

These symptoms tend to come on suddenly. With treatment, most people start to get better in days and are fully recovered within a few months.

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Named 17 early signs of multiple sclerosis

• Health

Many unremarkable symptoms that disappear from time to time even without treatment may indicate a terrible chronic disease that affects young people.

December 5, 20216

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Multiple sclerosis is the most common chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. This disease is completely incurable. According to statistics, more than 2 million people in the world suffer from multiple sclerosis.

The worst thing about this disease is that it is practically asymptomatic, all signs in the early stages are easily confused with symptoms of other diseases. Meanwhile, the sooner treatment is started, the more likely it is to preserve the quality of life to the maximum and not face disability.

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Causes of multiple sclerosis

According to neurologist Natalya Ratnikova, doctors know what happens with sclerosis, but its exact causes are still unclear.

– MS is characterized by myelin damage (these are multiple layers of special cell processes around the nerve fibers and are electrical insulation that ensures the correct conduction of the nerve impulse in the nervous system).

Attacks myelin own immune system. Myelin is destroyed, a zone of edema and inflammation is formed around the damaged nerve fiber, and impulse conduction is disrupted.

Gradually, edema and inflammation disappear, and a plaque forms in the focus – a lifelong “scar” in the nervous tissue, which leads to persistent neurological disorders.

Why exactly the immune system attacks myelin – is still unclear – noted Ratnikova.

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Statistics

• People born and lived to age 15 in northern regions have a much higher risk of getting MS than those born and lived to age 15 in sunny regions;

• Many historically long-lived minorities in the northern regions rarely get sick with MS (North American Indians, Yakuts), and residents of sunny Sicily get sick with MS 10 times more often than in Malta;

• Women get sick 3 times more often than men;

• Most scientists associate MS with genetics and heredity.

Risk age

According to neurologist Larisa Neboga, this disease strikes people at the very dawn of their strength.

– The most dangerous period is from 15 to 60 years old, in childhood and old age this disease almost never begins . From the first manifestation to the establishment of a diagnosis, it sometimes takes several years, because the disease has many masks, resembling other disorders.

Another very dangerous feature of multiple sclerosis is that its symptoms can come and go on their own after a while.

However, the further, the shorter the remission periods will be – and the worse, if you do not start treatment, it will be for a person, – the specialist notes.

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Forms of the disease

MS has several forms, says a neurologist at the Clinical Hospital. V.V. Vinogradova Sokov Petr.

1. Relapsing-relapsing

Periods of exacerbation are replaced by periods of complete recovery or partial improvement, between exacerbations the symptoms do not get worse

2.

Secondary progressive

The disease continues to progress both during periods of exacerbations and without them.

3. Primary progressive

The disease is constantly progressing, periods of slight improvement may occur temporarily.

– In its most aggressive form, the disease leads to disability. With any of them, the disease has neurological symptoms, but each patient manifests itself individually, emphasizes Sokov.

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What is fraught with MS

As mentioned above, it is impossible to completely cure multiple sclerosis. However, depending on the availability of therapy and the form of the disease, the prognosis may be different.

The disease itself is not fatal, but the quality of life can be significantly reduced. According to statistics, people suffering from MS live an average of 7 years less.

In addition, some patients may experience disabilities. Other symptoms can also cause severe discomfort, but they can usually be managed with the right treatment.

However, the forms of the disease may change over time. So doctors cannot give any guarantees about what exactly the patient’s condition will be and whether deterioration will occur.

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Symptoms

As mentioned above, multiple sclerosis has many symptoms. For example:

• Sensory disorders (one or another part of the body suddenly loses sensation)

• Gait disorders

• Visual impairment (often in only one eye), double vision, intermittent and sudden blindness

• Problems with speech – it can become slow, confused

• Impairment of intellectual abilities

• Trigeminal neuralgia ( inflammation of the trigeminal nerve) in young people

• Wavelike twitching of facial muscles or myokymia

• Weakness (asthenia) without cause

• Periodic dizziness and headaches

• “Hot bath” syndrome – worsening condition, loss of visual acuity after physical exertion, with an increase in body temperature, visiting a bath or other thermal procedure

• Urinary disorders emissions

• Sweating disorders (a person sweats too much or does not sweat at all)

• Tremor of the hands, stiffness in the movements of the limbs

• Pain and numbness along the spine when the head is tilted, with a sensation of passing an electric current goosebumps in different parts of the body

• Severe pain in the abdomen and chest, mimicking diseases of the internal organs

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But memory problems and excessive forgetfulness, despite popular jokes, are a rather rare symptom of sclerosis.