A woman has revealed a list of ‘invisible’ symptoms she experiences due to her Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a chronic disease of the central nervous system believed to be an autoimmune disorder.
While the NHS states that MS affects individuals differently, some common symptoms including fatigue, muscle cramps, spasms and stiffness, and lack of coordination, which may worsen as the disease progresses. However, there are countless of other symptoms that other people don’t notice.
Nicole Pedra, a social media creator who diagnosed with MS at age 10, shares videos about her daily life with the condition in order to bring awareness to it. In a recent video, she listed common symptoms she experiences that are typically unnoticed by others.
What are the symptoms of MS?
“Symptoms of MS I get that you can’t see,” Nicole began her video before acting out the different symptoms for the camera.
Demonstrating a shock through her spine, Nicole shared her first symptom, which Lhermitte’s Sign, also known as the electric shock sensation. This sudden, brief sensation, described by the Multiple Sclerosis Society UK, runs down the spine into the arms and legs, often triggered by neck movements like bending the head forward, or actions such as coughing, sneezing or yawning.
Facial pain is another symptom that Nicole experienced, particularly in her cheeks and cheekbones.
She also discussed the ‘MS hug’, a discomforting sensation of tightness or pressure around the stomach or chest. This can be felt all around these areas or just on one side, almost like an intense hug.
Nicole then revealed she often gets an increased sensitivity to both hot and cold temperatures, as well as bright lights.
Other physical effects she experienced included body jerks, itching, and restless leg syndrome. She also mentioned experiencing brain fog and frequently dropping things.
More severe physical symptoms included sudden shortness of breath without exertion, difficulty swallowing, and slurred speech. Lastly, Nicole shared that she often suffers from gastrointestinal issues.
What do you do if you experience MS symptoms?
According to the NHS, there are lots of symptoms of MS, and everyone is affected differently.
They include:
- feeling extremely tired
- problems with your eyes or your vision, such as blurred vision or eye pain
- numbness or a tingling feeling in different parts of the body
- feeling off balance, dizzy or clumsy
- muscle cramps, spasms and stiffness
- needing to pee more often or not being able to control when you pee
- problems with memory or concentration
- sexual problems, including a dry vagina or erection problems
According to the Multiple Sclerosis Society UK, 7 out of 10 people with MS will experience bowel problems at some point, either constipation or incontinence. The cause of these bowel issues is not fully understood, but it’s believed they could be due to weakened colon muscles or possible nerve damage in the bowel.
It’s important to note that having any of these symptoms does not necessarily mean you have MS. These symptoms are common and can be caused by various conditions, so their presence does not definitively indicate MS.
Should you have any concerns or queries, please do not hesitate to reach out to your GP.