Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

While many patients go undiagnosed during the early stages of MS, the primary progressive multiple sclerosis symptoms are often what drives them to seek a diagnosis. This is generally because in the early or relapsing remitting stage the average person is likely to experience a single exacerbation that is mild in nature and they may not have another for months or even years. In most cases these symptoms go completely ignored.

Common Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

One of the most common and easily identifiable symptoms of primary progressive multiple sclerosis is the slow onset of mobility issues. The typical patient will start to have problems walking that will gradually worsen over time. According to research approximately 80-90 percent of all MS patients will exhibit this problem. Among the difficulties noticed is a spastic gait that is characterized by the leg muscles stiffening up and causing a noticeable limp or jerky walking gait.

In many patients there is distinct spastic hemiparesis, which presents itself as a weakness or loss of use of one side of the body, either in the arms or legs. This can make it difficult to hold onto things and can cause a person to appear clumsy, experience excessive stiffness, stumble and fall down unexpectedly. An MRI scan of the brain may not show any lesions at this point, but may show atrophy of the spinal cord.

Rare Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms

Approximately 10% of all patients will exhibit tremors and imbalance as primary progressive multiple sclerosis symptoms. Medically termed Progressive Cerebellar Syndrome, it is characterized by excessive shaking of the hands that makes it very difficult to perform any kind of small movement. Many patients begin to see a noticeable loss of muscle tone and begin to have problems with their balance. Other symptoms include a lack of coordination, a staggered walk and an inability to perform rapid movements that alternate.

Among the rarest primary progressive multiple sclerosis symptoms, are Brainstem Syndrome which manifests as problems swallowing, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and a nystagmus. Approximately 1% of all patients may suffer a loss of vision that gets progressive worse. The same percentage of patients may begin to have a loss of cognitive and verbal skills. These symptoms are likely due to inflammation of the brain and an MRI is likely to reveal a brain scan than looks similar to that of someone in the secondary progressive stage of MS.