MS symptoms every NC resident should know

MS symptoms affect between 2 and 150 out of every 100,000 people.  What that means is that within the Concorde, Huntersville and Denver NC area, there are people who suffer from MS, the short name for the disease called Multiple Sclerosis.

While many individuals with MS have not been diagnosed, many of them have. In fact, many local patients suffering from the early symptoms of MS seek medical treatment from the local neurological offices of NorthEast Neurology located in Concorde, Huntersville and Denver NC.When MS patients go to Northeast neurology, the doctors there look for specific complaints. These include numbness and tingling, balance problems, weakness and fatigue, and vision problems.

Numbness and tingling

Everyone has experienced the temporary loss of sensation in the hands and feet because of the way they were sitting, or just because it was cold outside. However, for people who suffer from MS, abnormal sensations like this are par for the course. These kinds of needles-and-pins complaints are not in and of themselves serious; however, they could be indicative of a much more serious condition.

Vertigo and other balance problems

MS symptoms of vertigo result from problems that develop inside the part of the nervous system that manages the ability of the body to stay in balance. Patients with MS may say that they feel dizzy or that they do not feel quite right on their feet.

The problem of vertigo may also make it difficult for patients to walk. In fact, several MS symptoms can make it difficult for patients to walk. Numbness in the lower extremities can cause walking to be extremely hazardous. Also, muscle fatigue and muscle spasms can contribute to walking problems.

Chronic tiredness, exhaustion and fatigue

Most people who suffer from MS symptoms complain about chronic tiredness, exhaustion and fatigue. That fatigue can include muscle fatigue, mental tiredness, wanting to sleep, or just simply not having the energy to do anything at all. In fact, the exhaustion experienced by MS patients is not the result of physical activity.  Many sufferers are extremely tired in spite of sleeping well and getting a lot of rest the night before.

Problems with vision

Most people suffering from MS symptoms also have problems with their sight.  In fact, optic neuritis is a disease that about 55 percent of people with MS also have. Blurred vision, color blindness, or loss of vision in one eye sick can results from optic neuritis.

How to find a neurologist in Concorde, Huntersville, and Denver NC

Concorde, Huntersville, and Denver NC residents can also schedule an appointment to consult with a neurologist in NorthEast Neurology about MS.

Discover why you can’t sleep in Concord NC

When you can’t sleep, there can be serious consequences. Chronic sleep deprivation affects your health, performance, safety and even your income. Sometimes sleep problems pop up because of stress or medical issues, and even mental health issues; sometimes it is because we choose to stay out late with friends, rather than get a good night’s sleep. This sort of sleep deprivation is usually made up for in time; it is when patients can’t sleep over more than a few days or weeks, and sleep problems become a chronic issue that neurologists may need to step in and figure out the cause.

Most people can’t sleep because they have an undiagnosed sleep disorder. Most people in the Huntersville and Denver NC area who have an undiagnosed sleep disorder will wake up after sleeping for hours but still be tired. They may be sleepy during the day, and chalk it up to the kids keeping them awake, or other stressors, when in reality, they are experiencing sleep problems related to sleep disorders. NorthEast Neurology is where patients go when they are tired of being tired, and want to know why they can’t sleep.

Side effects of sleep problems are serious

When you can’t sleep, your body and brain do not function as well as it should. Did you know that a reduction in nighttime sleep by only one and half hours could affect your daytime alertness by up to 32%? This decreased alertness can affect your memory and problem solving abilities, as well as affect your ability to pay attention for long periods of time. Going the movies, watching television with a spouse, even participating in activities with your children may all be affected because you are too sleepy to actively take part. Sleep problems can severely impact relationships, particularly among spouses who are kept awake because of sleep disruptions, or a partner’s moodiness when they just can’t sleep.

Concord area residents should also know that sleep problems increase the risk for workplace injury twofold; and according to The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), conservative estimates indicate that each year drowsy driving is responsible for at least 100,000 automobile crashes, 71,000 injuries, and 1,550 fatalities. These statistics are scary and anyone who routinely can’t sleep or is suffering from chronic sleep problems should heed the warning and see the professionals at NorthEast Neurology for an evaluation.

Sleep centers could help discover why you can’t sleep in Huntersville NC

When you can’t sleep and neurologists are involved in diagnosing your sleep problem, they may ask you to spend the night in a sleep center. The sleep lab is designed like your bedroom at home, only patients are monitored throughout the night for signs of snoring or other symptoms that point to sleep disorders. Sleep centers are commonplace now, and within the controlled environment of sleep labs, patients are monitored using polysomnography, equipment that includes surface electrodes that will attach to your face and scalp to send recorded electrical signals to the measuring equipment. These signals, which are generated by your brain and muscle activity, are then recorded digitally. Measurements of your breathing are done using belts placed around your chest and abdomen. Finally, an oximeter probe, very much like a small bandage, is placed on your finger to measure the amount of oxygen in your blood. Though this equipment may seem uncomfortable, most patients fall asleep quite easily.

When you can’t sleep, it may be because you are experiencing sleep problems or snoring issues related to sleep disorders. These sleep problems are evaluated by neurologists and monitored at a sleep lab to help get to the bottom of why you can’t sleep. If you live in Concord, Huntersville and the Denver, NC, area and you can’t sleep, call the neurologists at NorthEast Neurology inConcord, Huntersville and the Denver, NC today to see if you may need to spend the night in a sleep lab to uncover the mystery to your sleep problems.

MS symptoms treatable in Concord NC!

MS symptoms are as unique as the individual they strike. No two people have exactly the same symptoms,which may fluctuate over time, making the disorder a challenge to diagnose. Early symptoms of MS can be hard to spot, but neurologists are able to determine if you are experiencing early symptoms of MS through a neurological exam and tests that include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), evoked potentials (EP), and spinal fluid analysis. If you think you are experiencing MS symptoms, call the neurologists at NorthEast Neurology for an appointment today!

Early symptoms of MS hard to spot

MS symptoms can wax and wane, making it difficult for patients to know what they are experiencing. Early symptoms of MS are even more difficult to identify, but the earlier patients seek treatment, the better the treatment prognosis. Understanding the most common MS symptoms can help identify if you are having early symptoms of MS, and then get the help you need from neurologists to stave off further progression. The most common MS symptoms include fatigue; numbness; walking; balance and coordination problems; bladder dysfunction and/or bowel dysfunction; vision problems; dizziness and vertigo; and sexual dysfunction. Numbness and vision problems are often the first symptoms experienced by people who are eventually diagnosed with MS. Numbness can occur in the face, body or limbs. Vision problems include a sudden onset of double vision, poor contrast, eye pain or heavy blurring. This symptom can be understandably terrifying, and often a cause of great anxiety about the future for people with multiple sclerosis. MS symptoms are frightening, but neurologists have more medications than ever that can stave off the development or recurrence of symptoms, especially if MS is caught in its earliest stages.

MS symptoms treated by medications and therapies

MS symptoms are treatable and can be managed quite effectively by neurologists at NorthEast Neurology Clinic. MS symptoms are managed through a combination of medication, self-care techniques, rehabilitation with a variety of therapists, and the use of assistive devices. Medications to modify the disease course are available to stave off symptoms, but there are also many medications that are used to treat symptoms as they occur. MS symptoms don’t have to be something Huntersville and Denver NC patients should grin and bear when neurologists have the knowledge, medicine and experience to help them live a more comfortable, productive life.

MS symptoms cover a broad spectrum, and some are more common than others. Early MS symptoms include fatigue, numbness of face, body or limbs, and vision problems. If you live in the Concord NC area and are experiencing any of these early MS symptoms, it is important to make an appointment with NorthEast Neurology to get the earliest and best treatment possible.