How long can you have MS without knowing?

Benign MS can't be identified at the time of initial diagnosis; it can take as long as 15 years to diagnose. The course of MS is unpredictable, and having benign MS doesn't mean that it can't progress into a more severe form of MS.

Can MS go undetected for years?

“MS is diagnosed most commonly in the ages between 20 and 50. It can occur in children and teens, and those older than 50,” said Smith. “But it can go unrecognized for years.”

How long can you have MS before symptoms appear?

Canadian research shows people with MS are more likely than the general population to visit a doctor or hospital in the years leading up to an MS diagnosis.

Can you live with MS and not know it?

MONDAY, June 28, 2021 (HealthDay News) -- Early symptoms of multiple sclerosis may commonly be missed for years before the right diagnosis is made, a new study suggests.

What are usually the first signs of MS?

MS with No Lesions - National MS Society

What does MS feel like in legs?

Some people with MS describe it as like having bags of sand attached to their legs. This muscle weakness combined with MS fatigue can be upsetting. Weakness in your legs can cause balance and walking difficulties and you may be more likely to fall.

Can MS come on suddenly?

Symptoms. Most commonly, MS starts with a vague symptom that disappears completely within a few days or weeks. Symptoms can appear suddenly and then vanish for years after the first episode, or in some cases never reappear. The symptoms of MS vary greatly and can range from mild to severe.

Can MS lay dormant for years?

Benign MS is a form of the condition in which a person has MS for several years without developing any severe disability.

What other symptoms have MS but no lesions?

About 5 percent of people who are confirmed to have MS do not initially have brain lesions evidenced by MRI. However, the longer a person goes without brain or spinal cord lesions on MRI, the more important it becomes to look for other possible diagnoses.

How long does it take MS to progress?

Most symptoms develop abruptly, within hours or days. These attacks or relapses of MS typically reach their peak within a few days at most and then resolve slowly over the next several days or weeks so that a typical relapse will be symptomatic for about eight weeks from onset to recovery.

What does an MS flare feel like?

Increased fatigue. Tingling or numbness anywhere on the body. Brain fog, or difficulty thinking. Muscle spasms.

Can MS stay mild?

Benign MS is a mild course where an individual will have mild disease after having MS for about 15 years. This occurs in about 5-10% of patients. There is no good way of predicting which patients will follow this course.

What does MS pain feel like?

Neuropathic pain happens from “short circuiting” of the nerves that carry signals from the brain to the body because of damage from MS. These pain sensations feel like burning, stabbing, sharp and squeezing sensations. In MS you can experience acute neuropathic pain and chronic neuropathic pain.

Can a neurologist Miss MS?

While MRI is not the only piece in the puzzle for MS diagnosis, it plays a significant role. A false negative diagnosis made off an MRI scan could lead the neurologist and patient down an incorrect path and delay an accurate diagnosis, or potentially miss it entirely.

What can be mistaken for MS?

Where do MS lesions show up first?

Classically, the MRI shows lesions in the white matter deep in the brain near the fluid spaces of the brain (the ventricles). The test may also show changes in the cortex or near the cortex. MRI can also show changes in the brainstem and in the spinal cord.

Can you have MS and be asymptomatic?

"Asymptomatic multiple sclerosis (MS)" or "subclinical MS" describes "a clinically silent disease state of MS" discovered by chance either by imaging or at autopsy, or with incidental findings shown by other diagnostic tools that are consistent or suggestive of MS, and that cannot be explained by any other disease or ...

Can anxiety cause MS like symptoms?

Unfortunately, anxiety causes many of the same symptoms as the early stages of MS. MS is one of the health issues that comes up most when those with anxiety search for their symptoms online, and millions of those with anxiety convince themselves that they might have MS.

How do you rule out MS?

How do I know if my MS is mild?

But about 15 years after your original MS diagnosis, your doctor will be able to tell if the condition is benign or not. They use an MRI and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) to figure out how physically impaired you are. The exam takes 15 to 30 minutes.

What is the oldest age you can get MS?

That changes the way your body moves and operates. Most people start to get MS symptoms between 20 and 40 years old. But sometimes, you won't have any MS symptoms until you're 50 or older. When this happens, doctors call it later-onset multiple sclerosis (LOMS).

Is MS triggered by stress?

Exposure to stress has long been suspected as a factor that can aggravate MS. There are many studies showing that among people diagnosed with MS, stressful life events are associated with a significant increase in risk of MS exacerbation in the weeks or months following onset of the stressor.

Can you have MS symptoms everyday?

Paroxysmal is a term for any MS symptoms that begin suddenly and only last for a few seconds or a few minutes at most. However, these symptoms may reappear a few times or many times a day in similar short bursts. They may be painful and disrupt your everyday activities or they can just be annoying.

What does MS numbness feel like?

A very common symptom of MS is numbness, often in the limbs or across the body, but it could be anywhere. Numbness is divided into four categories: Paresthesia – feelings of pins and needles, tingling, buzzing, or crawling sensation.

Can I test myself for MS?

Performing a multiple sclerosis (MS) self-assessment cannot diagnose the condition, but it may help a person understand their symptoms and know when to contact a doctor. An MS self-assessment can include paying attention to energy levels, physical sensations, vision problems, and more.