Don’t just assume new neurological symptoms are because of MS
I'll never again make the mistake of self-diagnosing
New or worsening symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) are often part of the disease’s unpredictable nature, but there’s danger in assuming that every symptom flare is another relapse. When I think back on the course of my disease, I realize I could have made a serious error by making this assumption.
I was eating lunch with colleagues at a professional meeting away from home. While chewing food, I experienced a sudden onset of numbness and tingling that radiated from my jaw area to my neck. It occurred only on my left side.
The concerning symptom was new to me, so I excused myself from the table and went outside. It lasted for approximately 15 minutes and then resolved. When I was wondering what to do, I assumed that the symptom was related to my MS.
Stroke symptoms and MS
Fortunately, it was. As a pharmacist, though, I knew numbness and tingling on one side of the body are classic signs of a stroke, also known as a cerebrovascular accident. But I chose to ignore this possibility and blame the issue on my MS.
Both MS and stroke affect the central nervous system and can cause neurological changes. Assuming my new symptom was from MS could have been a costly mistake, as a stroke requires immediate medical attention to prevent death and reduce long-term disability. Treatment for a stroke works best when delivered quickly, ideally within the first few hours of symptom onset. Delaying care, even by minutes, can have devastating consequences, as more brain tissue is permanently damaged.
Symptoms of MS and stroke — including sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body, headache, vision changes, and loss of balance or coordination — can overlap, leading to the potentially dangerous assumption that they’re “just part of my MS.”
An interesting fact I learned recently is that people with MS may be at a higher risk of a stroke compared with the general population. That’s another reason why, going forward, I won’t ignore new neurologic symptoms or assume they’re caused by my MS.
Here are some red flags associated with stroke that are less common in MS:
- the abrupt onset of symptoms (within seconds or minutes)
- facial drooping on one side
- slurred speech or inability to speak coherently
- difficulty understanding speech
- loss of consciousness
MS relapses usually progress over hours to days, not seconds. Stroke symptoms tend to appear instantly and may worsen rapidly.
From now on, if I experience a new symptom or one associated with a stroke, I plan to avoid self-diagnosis and seek help in a timely manner. A false alarm is better than risking permanent disability or death by waiting to seek help.
Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.
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Barbara
Important point. I’d blamed recent symptoms on MS. MRI showed it was a stroke.
Anita
Yes, we must not think everything physically wrong w/ us is an MS symptom. For over a year, I was dealing with/ recurrent UTIs as well as having some hellacious bouts of constipation. I don’t take any drugs for my MS. Anyway, I would get a script for antibiotics. It would take care of it and a few months later, I’d get another UTI. Went thru this maybe 4 times. Then one day I had lots of blood in the toilet bowl after urinating. I mean a lot. I thought maybe hemorrhoid but whatever, I blew it off. I googled if people with MS were suceptible to UTIs and it said yes. So, I blamed it on MS. Next time, I went to doc, I told her about the bleeding and I had another UTI. She said, that’s it, we’re going to get you an ultrasound. I said, no no. It’s probably my MS. She said no, best to get the ultrasound. So, I did it. While getting the US, the tech was having some issues seeing what she needed to see. She had to really move me around. When I pulled up my results, a few days later, I saw the news. I had a very large tumor on my right kidney. It was almost as large as my kidney. 1 cm off. It said that renal cell carcinoma was suspected. A few CTs later, it was confirmed. Stage 2 Kidney cancer. My urologist said that the tumor was bulging into my bowels which probably caused some of that constipation. Anyway, I was scheduled for surgery to remove the kidney and tumor and so far, all clear. That was 8 months ago. And no more constipation. None. So don’t blame your symptoms on MS. While MS folks may have a higher chance to get UTIs, you need to be mindful that it could be something else if it’s recurrent. A simple ultrasound can provide the answer.
denise egan
Thank you for this article, creating awareness for us all 👏 - certainly something I will think twice about now
Alan Swantz
I thought this was gonna to be a positive, "don't worry, it's not always your ms" kind of article I didn't expect it to be "It might not be ms.It could be a stroke"
Elizabeth Hale
Please please reread and remember this article. I've been diagnosed with MS since 2003. In June 2025, I woke up with my left arm and leg slightly paralyzed- a symptom not experienced in 22 years. I started oral prednisone. The next day I fell unexpectedly after losing my balance doing a routine chore. The next day, I called my neurologist who directed me to get blood work to rule out an infection. Urgent care sent me to the ER because my labs were off and I had no infection.An MRI revealed I had an ischemic pontine stroke. I was hospitalized for 4 days. By the grace of God I made a full overt physical recovery, but my cognitive issues, fatigue level, stamina, reactions to heat and cold have changed. I am on 3 additional medications to prevent another stroke and come with unwelcome side effects. I was embarassingly LUCKY compared to others I met in physical/occupational therapy. Everything has changed. Every day is blessing.