Depending on which demyelinating disease you have, your symptoms may vary. Symptoms are suggestive of demyelination if they last 24 hours or more. Your symptoms, along with your MRIs, allow our specialists to properly diagnose and treat you. Since you know your body better than anyone else, it's always important to keep in mind how you are feeling and recognize the symptoms of your disease. By recognizing the symptoms quickly, you can see the doctor sooner and get the proper treatment faster. Here's a list of some common symptoms of the various demyelinating diseases.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis is diagnosed after repeated attacks of:
- Vision loss (in one or both eyes)
- Double vision
- Problems swallowing
- Numbness or weakness on one side of the body
- Balance problems or dizziness
- Bladder problems (such as going too frequently, having "accidents," or having trouble starting)
- Band-like sensation around the chest or waist
- L'hermitte's sign - "electrical shock" feeling down the spine (especially when bending the neck forward)
- Usually no changes in behavior or mental state
When these symptoms occur for the first time, we call it a Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) and we will often use the MRI to make a diagnose of MS before there are repeated attacks of demyelination.
Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis
May have signs of demyelination similar to those of Multiple Sclerosis (see above). In order to make a diagnosis of ADEM, there must also be changes in behavior such as:
- Sleepiness
- Irritability
- Coma
- Seizures can also occur
Optic Neuritis
- Loss of vision (in one or both eyes)
Transverse Myelitis
- Weakness and/or numbness of the arms or legs
- Bowel and/or bladder problems
Neuromyelitis Optica
- Symptoms of both optic neuritis and transverse myelitis