Multiple Sclerosis - Numbness - A Common Symptom

If you have multiple sclerosis, numbness could have been one of the first symptoms you had as the disease emerged. Present in up to 90% of all multiple sclerosis cases, numbness is one of the most common symptoms of the disease. For many this numbness is their constant and unwelcome companion, for others is initiated by factors such as stress, fatigue or overheating. 

Multiple sclerosis numbness is also called paresthesia and can feel like a tingling, pins and needles, buzzing or vibration sensations, and can be accompanied by burning or itching. It can interfere in walking or it can affect your hands causing difficulty in writing or holding things. For some it can affect their tongue, causing them to slur their words and make it difficult for them to sense hot or cold.

Multiple sclerosis numbness can affect only one small spot such as a cheek, or it can affect entire areas of the body such as a leg or arm. Numbness can last for a short period of time such as an hour or two or it can last a very long time. For many people the numbness will come and go in waves or it will be similar to a throbbing sensation.

Often times Multiple sclerosis numbness will be worse at night, making it difficult for people to sleep. Many multiple sclerosis patients find it helpful to keep their rooms cool at night. While it does not in and of itself cause serious significant disability, multiple sclerosis numbness can make life difficult for many patients.

Caution should be used when trying to eat if you have numbness in the face, it is typical for people to bite the sides of their mouth and tongue and not even realized. Care should also be used with hot or cold items either in touching or eating since Multiple sclerosis numbness can also cause you to be unable to feel hot or cold. Numbness can also make it difficult to walk and cause you to drop things.

If numbness becomes intense and affects daily activities or does not go away there are steroids your doctor can give you to lessen the flare ups of Multiple sclerosis numbness.