Is bodily weakness a symptom of MS, especially after 10 years with RRMS?
Yes, muscle weakness is one of the most common symptoms of MS. More than 43,000 MyMSTeam members report experiencing weakness, and research suggests up to 70 percent of people with MS deal with this symptom. It's a major contributor to challenges with Show Full Answer
Is bodily weakness a symptom of MS, especially after 10 years with RRMS?
Yes, muscle weakness is one of the most common symptoms of MS. More than 43,000 MyMSTeam members report experiencing weakness, and research suggests up to 70 percent of people with MS deal with this symptom. It's a major contributor to challenges with walking, mobility, and balance.
Weakness can affect different parts of your body - legs, arms, hands - and can range from mild to severe enough to make daily tasks like opening jars or turning doorknobs difficult. There are several reasons why you might be experiencing prolonged weakness:
- Muscle deconditioning: When muscles aren't used regularly due to fatigue or mobility issues, they can shrink and weaken over time
- Nerve damage: MS damages the protective myelin coating around nerves, disrupting communication between your brain and muscles
- Fatigue: About 80 percent of people with MS experience fatigue, which can worsen muscle weakness
- MS flares: Weakness often becomes more pronounced during relapses
Since you've been experiencing significant weakness for months, it's important to contact your neurologist. They can help determine if this is related to disease progression, a flare, or other factors, and discuss management strategies.
January 30
Join
Your Privacy Choices
