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Multiple sclerosis is a very unpredictable disease. A lot of people have already heard something about the disease when they are diagnosed with MS and many are fearful that it will cause them to lose all power in their arms or legs, and that they might end up in a wheelchair. In reality about one person in three with multiple sclerosis becomes affected to the extent that they require assistance to walk or need to use a wheelchair, but it can take many years or decades for things to get to this stage.

During the first few years after the symptoms begin, the majority of people are relatively untroubled by their symptoms except at those times when the symptoms seem to flare up (a relapse). Many (about one third) do not become disabled even after several decades. Other people suffer from a degree of stiffness in an arm or leg or poor co-ordination, perhaps with a tendency to need to hurry to the toilet when the bladder is full, or perhaps with a persisting feeling of tiredness.

What other problems may develop?
Many people with multiple sclerosis develop a degree of stiffness in the legs. When this is severe doctors describe it as spasticity. Problems with the bladder are relatively common. Many people find that they have to rush to the toilet, and some find that it can be difficult to start the flow of the urine. Similarly, some people have difficulty controlling their bowels, but this is relatively unusual. Some people experience sexual difficulties and this may in turn lead to a loss of sex drive.

If the part of the brain that deals with balance (the cerebellum) is affected by the multiple sclerosis, then people can have difficulties with co-ordinating movements of the body. Sometimes people feel that an arm or leg is very shaky and ‘won’t seem to behave.’

Tiredness is a very common problem in multiple sclerosis and often one that is not always apparent to a person’s friends or family. In some people who have virtually no other symptoms at all, the only way that the multiple sclerosis shows itself is by a profound lack of energy. Pain is rarely a problem in multiple sclerosis.  Occasionally, some people experience a brief, sharp nerve pain in the face called trigeminal neuralgia, which can usually be controlled with a drug called carbamazepine. Sometimes people with multiple sclerosis may notice difficulties with organising and planning daily tasks, or have difficulties with memory. Understandably, many people with multiple sclerosis may on occasions feel low in spirits or depressed. There are some very effective drugs for treating depression.