Symptoms of MS may be mild or severe and of long duration or short and appear in various combinations.

The initial symptom of MS is often blurred or double vision, red-green color distortion, or even blindness in one eye. Most MS patients experience muscle weakness in their extremities and difficulty with coordination and balance. Some might also experience certain transitory abnormal sensory feeling such as numbness or "pins and needles." Others may have pain or loss of feeling. About half of people with MS experience cognitive impairments such as difficulties with concentration, attention, memory, and judgment. Such impairments are usually mild, rarely disabling, and intellectual and language abilities are generally spared. Heat may cause temporary worsening of many MS symptoms.

Bladder problems or urinary dysfunction are common in MS, although not everyone with MS will have them. For those who do, symptoms vary from person to person and must be dealt with on an individual basis. But they can and should be handled.

It is important to inform your physician as soon as any problems occur.

About half of all people diagnosed with MS will have some kind of vision problem during the course of their disease. Many MS-related eye problems are temporary. Many come and go repeatedly. Blurred or double vision is one of the most common early symptoms of MS.

If you are having vision problems, talk to your physician about possible treatments.

MS can affect sexuality both directly and indirectly. Pain, numbness or decreased lubrication for women and erectile dysfunction for men may all cause problems. Psychological factors may also decrease desire.

The physicians, social workers and other professionals at the MS Center can help with these problems. It is important to overcome your modesty or embarrassment and discuss them.

Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of MS. Fatigue may be a primary symptom or it may be a side effect of other symptoms such as leg weakness or respiratory problems. Some MS-related fatigue is constant and some comes and goes.

Keep a diary of your energy level and make notes on your feelings. Bring this to your physician to help assess your level of fatigue and treatment options.

Depression is one of the most treatable symptoms of MS. Whether the depression is a psychological response to the disease or a physiological component, it is a manageable disorder.

Talk to your doctor about your feelings of sadness, grief or anxiety. There are many effective interventions.