RELATED: Selma Blair Reveals the First Sign She Had Multiple Sclerosis. Amber O’Brien, MD, a doctor at Mango Clinic, says numbness and tingling in your hands are some “of the earliest signs that appear in MS.” The severity of the numbness and tingling can vary greatly. “A tingling in the hand may sometimes be a niggling inconvenience, or it might make holding things difficult or very painful,” the MS Society says.ae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb According to the Mayo Clinic, these symptoms are the result of the immune system attacking the protective coverings on nerves, which leads to communication problems between your brain and other parts of your body. RELATED: If You Notice This in the Morning, It May Be an Early Sign of Parkinson’s. The severity of symptoms often depends on the level of nerve damage. Leann Poston, MD, a licensed physician and medical expert for Invigor Medical, says that “the lack of sensation may be so severe that you cannot sense when an object is in your hand. The numbness can feel like squeezing or that a limb will not wake up.” On the other hand, you could just experience pins and needles or the sensation that your hand is asleep. She adds that these symptoms “come and go as nerves malfunction.” O’Brien notes that once the symptoms begin, they can last for hours and sometimes even a full day. She says that the numbness and tingling in your hands could also come with “burning sensations, itching, prickling, feeling cold, vibrations, or buzzing.” Poston notes that the numbness in your hands could be so severe that it can make you unable to sense an object in your hand, which could result in difficulty eating, getting dressed, and holding objects. O’Brien also says that people who suffer from these symptoms sometimes “can’t perform everyday tasks from writing or typing to picking up objects.” If you find that you’re experiencing numbness or tingling that’s getting in the way of your daily activities, you should talk to your doctor immediately. RELATED: For more health content delivered straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. While numbness and tingling in your hands are common early signs of MS that you should watch out for, there are a handful of other notable symptoms to be aware of. According to Orlando Health, blurred vision, fatigue, muscle weakness, pain, depression, dizziness, and paralysis are all possible early signs of MS. You might also experience sexual, bladder, and bowel dysfunction. If you’re suffering from any of these symptoms, make sure to make an appointment with a health professional. RELATED: If You Notice This While Eating, It Could Be an Early Sign of Parkinson’s.
