What does MS do to your throat?

MS may affect swallowing in a number of ways by causing difficulty managing solids or liquids, frequent throat clearing during eating or drinking, a feeling that food is stuck in the throat, or coughing or a choking sensation when eating or drinking.

Does multiple sclerosis affect swallowing?

At least a third of people with MS probably experience some changes in their swallowing at some time. Health care professionals might call swallowing difficulties 'dysphagia' (diss-fay-jee-ah). Changes might be so small that they are hard to notice. But even picking these up can help avoid possible complications.

Can MS cause mucus in throat?

People with MS may also get sicker than others when they become ill. This can mean that they produce more mucus, struggle more with postnasal drip, and cough more than other people with the same infection.

What are some weird symptoms of MS?

What is MS tongue?

Tongue sores with MS are often described as discomfort, burning, or soreness of the tongue: “My tongue hurts as if I burned it,” said one MyMSTeam member. “It is difficult to eat because my tongue is painfully sore. It even hurts to swallow my own saliva.” You may feel that certain foods make symptoms worse.

Marlo shares how her multiple sclerosis affects her speech

Does MS affect sinuses?

First, sinusitis is present in many MS patients, and the rate of MS exacerbations during the sinusitis attacks was found to be doubled. Furthermore, using magnetic resonance imaging of the nasal sinuses, 53% of MS patients had evidence of sinusitis.

Can MS cause throat pain?

Dysphagia occurs often in people living with MS. MS can affect the strength and coordination of the muscles in the mouth and throat. As a result, a person may feel as though they have something stuck in their throat, or they may choke on their food or drink.

What is the number one symptom of MS?

Numbness of the face, body, or extremities (arms and legs) is often the first symptom experienced by those eventually diagnosed as having MS.

What is the biggest symptom of MS?

Fatigue. Feeling fatigued is one of the most common and troublesome symptoms of MS. It's often described as an overwhelming sense of exhaustion that means it can be a struggle to carry out even the simplest activities.

What are the red flag signs of MS?

Does MS cause a nasal drip?

Although sinus issues and congestion are not typically symptoms of MS, people who have multiple sclerosis may get runny noses and sinus infections more often than those in the general population. Fortunately, this is rarely a serious problem, but it can worsen quality of life if the infections become serious.

Can you feel MS in your neck?

Neck and back pain: Some people with MS can experience neck and back pain. This may be due to immobility, or to the same type of wear and tear that many people without MS experience. This type of pain is often an aching, stiff sensation that can be moderately severe.

Can MS cause acid reflux?

Many people living with MS experience gastrointestinal symptoms caused or made worse by their illness. These symptoms include heartburn, indigestion, bloating, and regurgitation.

Can multiple sclerosis change your voice?

Problems with how you speak can be a symptom of multiple sclerosis for some people. MS speech disorders include slurring of speech and problems with the quality of your voice (dysarthria) and difficulty remembering specific words (dysphasia).

How do you know if MS is getting worse?

If you noticed that the physical ability is worsening over the past 6 months or year, inform your healthcare provider. Also, report changes in cognition such as short-term memory loss, multitasking problems and word-finding difficulties.

What causes MS flare ups?

What causes exacerbations? Exacerbations (relapses) are caused by inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS). The inflammation damages the myelin, slowing or disrupting the transmission of nerve impulses and causing the symptoms of MS.

Where does MS usually start?

Here's where MS (typically) starts

Optic neuritis, or inflammation of the optic nerve, is usually the most common, Shoemaker says. You may experience eye pain, blurred vision and headache. It often occurs on one side and can eventually lead to partial or total vision loss.

Does MS show up in blood work?

Blood Tests: Currently, there are no definitive blood tests for diagnosing MS, but they can be used to rule out other conditions that may mimic MS symptoms, including Lyme disease, collagen-vascular diseases, rare hereditary disorders and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

What are the facial symptoms of multiple sclerosis?

Usually, MS facial twitching affects one side of your face at a time. And you may notice other facial symptoms first, like numbness, tingling, weakness, or other weird sensations. “People will usually say, 'My face feels swollen, but I look in the mirror and it's not swollen,'” Stoll says.

How does your body feel with MS?

“MS may lead to a loss of sensation in whatever area of the body corresponds with the damaged area of the brain or spinal cord,” Dr. Scherz says. This can cause numbness or a tingling sensation—for instance, in the fingers or toes. The feeling usually comes and goes, and can be mild or severe.

Does MS make you gain weight?

MS fatigue, steroid therapy, and depression can all lead to unwanted weight in people with MS. Though these factors are not your fault, you owe it to yourself to take control of your weight. Overeating can increase MS symptoms or health conditions, such as: fatigue.

How do you confirm MS diagnosis?

Can MS make you feel short of breath?

In MS, the most common cause of respiratory problems is loss of muscle strength and endurance. Just as a person can experience muscle weakness in the arms or legs, weakness can occur in the ventilatory muscles of the chest and abdomen that are involved in breathing.

Does MS mess with your ears?

Hearing loss is an uncommon symptom of MS. About 6 percent of people who have MS complain of impaired hearing. The cause of hearing loss can be due to non-MS related issues but in MS, can be associated with damage to the hearing nerve pathways in the brain and the brainstem.

Can MS cause blocked ears?

The course of MS is unpredictable and can cause a variety of symptoms in different people. It may cause hearing problems and other symptoms that have to do with the function of the inner ear, such as hearing loss, tinnitus, balance problems, and a muffled or full feeling in the ear.