Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disease that affects the nervous system. It is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the healthy tissue (myelin) that covers and protects the nerves. When the myelin is damaged, the nerves are eventually damaged, too. This makes it hard for signals to travel between the brain and the body. MS can cause a wide variety of symptoms, which makes the disease different for everyone. At times, it might be hard for you to tell if something your older family member with MS is experiencing is related to their disease or something else. Below are some MS symptoms that family caregivers might mistake for something else. A home care assistance provider can be on hand to help.
Problems with Vision
MS can cause your older family member to have blurry vision or double vision. It can even cause vision loss. The changes in vision are caused by inflammation in the optic nerve. Oftentimes, only one eye is affected. Some people feel pain in their eyes, especially when they move them. Because changes in vision are common as people age, it can be easy to mistake this symptom for normal age-related changes that can be corrected with glasses.
Numbness and Tingling
People with MS may feel tingling in parts of their body, including arms and fingers. They can also feel numb. These feelings are caused by a conflict in the signals being sent from the brain. Numbness occurs when there are no signals at all. Many other conditions can cause tingling in the extremities, such as diabetes. Since a person with MS can also get other diseases, including diabetes, you may be uncertain whether the symptom is caused by MS or another condition.
Fatigue
Approximately 80 percent of people with MS suffer from fatigue. It typically comes on suddenly and lingers for weeks before getting better. Fatigue can make thinking difficult and cause muscles to feel weak. Fatigue is a symptom of many other diseases. To a person unfamiliar with MS, it may even look like laziness.
No matter what symptoms your aging relative experiences because of MS, an elder care provider can help them to cope. An elder care provider can make certain the senior is able to move about without falling when their feet or legs feel numb or they cannot see well. An elder care provider can also let your aging relative rest when they are fatigued because elder care can take over household tasks like cleaning, cooking, and laundry.
If you or an aging loved-one is considering Home Care Assistance in Fairfax, VA, please contact the caring staff at Decena Home Care, LLC today. 571-508-7144
Sources
https://www.healthline.com/health/multiple-sclerosis/early-signs
https://www.webmd.com/multiple-sclerosis/multiple-sclerosis-symptoms#1
https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis/MS-Symptoms
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/peripheral-neuropathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20352061
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