According to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, no two cases of Multiple Sclerosis are exactly alike. This can make it more challenging to know what to look for or what to expect once you have been diagnosed. While the exact symptoms you have may not exactly match the symptoms of a friend who also suffers from multiple sclerosis (MS), there are certain known groups of symptoms that are closely associated with MS.
In this article, learn about these groups of primary, secondary, and tertiary symptoms. The more you can learn about what to expect and what others have experienced, the more information you will have to help you manage the disease or care for a loved one who has multiple sclerosis.
According to the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), there are seven major categories or types of MS.
Each type can have a slightly different symptoms profile. Some of the types can overlap. As medical researchers learn and study more, there is the likelihood that some of the seven types may actually be reclassified as precursors to other types.
Of all the types, pediatric MS is the most rare.
The seven types are:
- Pediatric.
- Tumefactive.
- Radiologically isolated.
- Clinically isolated.
- Primary progressive.
- Secondary-progressive.
- Relapsing-remitting.
When you or a loved one has been newly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the learning curve can often feel nearly vertical.
Everything is new. There is so much to learn and take in and it is all coming at you all at once.
One of the most important things you need to learn is that there are different types or classifications of multiple sclerosis symptoms. The general names for these sets of symptoms are primary, secondary and tertiary.
In this section, we review the common and not so common primary symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
As the Mayo Clinic explains, multiple sclerosis primarily impacts the brain and spine - the central nervous system - and causes the immune system to go haywire. Whenever the normal function of the central nervous system is disrupted, the normal communication channels of the body are disrupted.
This can have some very surprising consequences. There are 20 basic sets of primary symptoms that are closely associated with MS, according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
In the majority of cases, physicians aim to treat primary symptoms as a route to limiting or removing secondary symptoms.
The most commonly reported secondary symptoms include urinary tract infections (UTIs), osteopenia or osteoporosis, postural instability and muscle weakness leading to chronic pain and breathing issues and bed sores.
Tertiary symptoms are often widespread and progressive as the disease itself progresses and causes inevitable changes to regular routines and overall perception of quality of life.
Fatigue can trigger inability to keep up with friends and social activities, work schedule, exercise and hobbies.
Motor, balance and movement problems may make it impossible to drive and live an independent lifestyle.
When bladder, bowel and intimacy functions are impacted, this can result in increasing social isolation.
Depression is the most prevalent symptom of multiple sclerosis that is considered a primary, secondary, and tertiary symptom.
According to the National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD), these are the most commonly reported symptoms of multiple sclerosis, regardless of the specific diagnosis.
- 88 percent of patients report fatigue.
- 87 percent of patients report movement (ambulation) issues.
- 65 percent of patients report issues with bladder or bowel function.
- 58 percent of patients report problems with vision.
- 44 percent of patients report problems with cognitive function.
- 41 percent of patients report tremors.
- 41 percent of patients report difficult with arm mobility.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, it is important to remember that each set of symptoms can be completely unique to the sufferer.
As well, there may be different treatment and management methods that work better for some patients than for others.
The type of MS can also impact what symptoms are present, how often they occur and how severe they may become.
It can be useful to keep a daily log of symptoms to help identify trends over time and make productive use of physical visits.