Table of Contents
Symptoms such as vertigo, new weakness in one or both legs, problems with balance or walking, blindness, dizziness, and unilateral facial pain or numbness are early indicators of multiple sclerosis (MS).
- According to actress Christina Applegate, she failed to notice early signs of multiple sclerosis (MS), including balance issues, a few years ago.
- Because symptoms like worry and weariness can have other causes, experts warn it can be challenging to diagnose multiple sclerosis (MS) from early symptoms.
- Because many treatments may alleviate symptoms when administered sooner, an early diagnosis can be crucial for managing multiple sclerosis.
Christina Applegate says she wishes she had paid more attention to the symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the early stages before her diagnosis.
The 51-year-old actress, who had starring parts in “Anchorman” and “The Sweetest Thing,” received a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in the year 2021.
Applegate discussed her struggle with multiple sclerosis and the fact that “It’s never a good day” in an interview she gave to “Good Morning America” in May 2023.
She Described Even Mundane Tasks Like Taking A Shower As “Frightening.”
She said you run the risk of tripping, slipping, and having your legs buckle. Like everyone else, I used to take the little things in life for granted for granted. She told GMA, “You can’t do that anymore” when going down the stairs while carrying goods.
According to an interview Applegate gave to The New York Times in 2022, she began to feel different while filming the pilot episode of her Netflix series “Dead To Me” a few years ago.
She admitted that she had trouble maintaining her balance while dancing. Then she realised she wasn’t putting enough effort on the tennis court, and her game started declining.
Then, Applegate observed that wearing shoes can throw off a person’s balance in a Twitter tweet from 2022.
In an interview with the New York Times, Applegate said, “I wish I had paid attention” when asked about the symptoms that initially indicated her disease. “How could I have known?”
Immediate Detection of Dementia
Like Applegate, experts believe that the earlier signs of multiple sclerosis are noticed, the better.
According to Dr. Paige Sutton, a neurologist at OhioHealth who specialises in neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis, the primary focus is to keep an eye out for symptoms of a new inflammatory relapse in patients with multiple sclerosis.
New neurologic symptoms that are consistent and continue more than 24 hours are usually signs of a relapse, according to Sutton.
“Some possible symptoms may include blurred or lost vision in one eye, numbness or pain on one side of the face, dizziness, abnormal sensations in one or both legs, or difficulty walking.”
Physical pressures like infections, insomnia, and mental stress can also lead to a “pseudo-relapse” (a worsening of symptoms), as pointed out by Sutton.
If symptoms have happened during a relapse in the past, Sutton warned, it’s crucial to think of a “pseudo-relapse” as the source of the symptoms.
If a patient experiences any new symptoms that continue for more than a day, they should contact their doctor so that they may get advice on whether or not to be concerned.
Explanation Of The Significance Of Early Ms Diagnosis
The efficacy of early diagnosis is a matter of debate. If Applegate had been diagnosed earlier, it is uncertain if her situation would have been better.
However, a communications specialist from Chicago named Angie Randall benefited greatly from an early diagnosis.
Randall was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) at the age of 29, not long after getting married, as she had previously told Healthline.
“I had always hoped to have a family and kids someday, so this news shocked and terrified me. A neurologist I saw allowed me to begin therapy immediately and encouraged me to pursue my plans to conceive a family.
Two children have been born to Randall since then.
With the help of her doctor, Randall was able to control her multiple sclerosis and realise her lifelong goal of starting a family.
“I am here to reassure anyone recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis that their life is not over,” she said, looking back on seven years, two children, a career change, and several health complications.
According to Sutton, the improved criteria for diagnosing MS have made doctors “much better” at discovering the disease sooner.
“We can initiate workup and confirm a diagnosis before someone experiences any disabling symptoms,” Sutton noted, adding that when an MRI shows early indicators of MS, the process can begin.
We have potent treatments that can help avoid future relapses and impairment, so early diagnosis is incredibly crucial. “With all the advances in diagnosis and treatment, it is really an exciting time to work with MS patients,” she noted.
Reasons Why Multiple Sclerosis (Ms) Diagnosis Is Not Always Easy
A challenge with diagnosing multiple sclerosis, according to Dr Nora Lansen of Galileo Health in New York, a primary care physician and director of virtual clinics was mentioned by Healthline by Lansen: the symptoms aren’t usually specific to the disorder.
For example, Applegate may have had other health issues that contributed to her exhaustion and balance issues before her MS diagnosis.
Lansen listed other symptoms that persons with MS often experience, including fatigue, anxiety, low mood, impaired focus, and constipation.
“People who do not have MS often encounter these symptoms as well.”
The possibility that these symptoms are precursors of multiple sclerosis is negligible, Lansen said.
She stated that there are other more prevalent reasons for these symptoms than multiple sclerosis, including situational stress, seasonal affective disorder, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and thyroid dysfunction.
However, doctors depend on symptoms and indicators of multiple sclerosis (MS) to direct diagnosis and therapy since no one test can give a conclusive diagnosis of the condition. See a doctor if you experience strange or concerning symptoms, especially if they persist.
Important Information Regarding Multiple Sclerosis
The Multiple Sclerosis Society states that MS “affects the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves, which make up the central nervous system and control everything we do.”
No one knows for sure what caused it. The immune system initiates an assault on the brain and spinal cord. That can cause disruptions to messages going to and from the brain by damaging myelin, the protective coating that encases nerve fibres like wires.
Illnesses like numbness, tingling, mood swings, memory loss, pain, exhaustion, blindness, and paralysis can strike at any moment due to this transformation.
These symptoms could be short-lived or persistent, depending on the individual experiencing multiple sclerosis.
Although heredity is not a direct cause of multiple sclerosis, it does play a role. One risk factor is having a family history of multiple sclerosis.
Although multiple sclerosis (MS) is now incurable, it is manageable with medicine and techniques for reducing stress.
