What are the common symptoms of multiple sclerosis?

  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. MS can have an acute, subacute or chronic onset. MS can cause a variety of symptoms, including sensory changes, visual disturbances, muscle weakness, depression, severe fatigue, cognitive impairment, balance disorders, body heat and pain.  Patients with MS have more signs than symptoms as an important clinical feature. Patients complain of weakness in one lower extremity, unsteady gait and numbness, but on examination may find bilateral pyramidal fasciculus or Babinski’s sign, and the coexistence of nystagmus and internuclear ophthalmoplegia indicating a brainstem lesion are two signs that are highly suggestive of MS. A neurologist needs to see the patient in person for physical examination to detect this.