In MS paroxysmal symptoms describe symptoms that come on very suddenly, lasting only a few seconds or minutes before disappearing just as quickly.
The information below comes from the MS Trust. Click on the hyperlinks (the blue writing) and you will visit their website page on the topic.
Many symptoms of MS can come on in a paroxysmal way including:
- trigeminal neuralgia which gives stabbing or burning sensations down the side of your face, usually on one side only
- altered sensations in your skin such as itching, numbness, tingling, burning or aching
- Lhermitte’s sign which feels like an electric shock down your neck and spine
- shooting pains in the arms or legs which can be very brief but still take your breath away
- spasms that may cause the sudden tightening of a limb, clawing of a hand, twitching or kicking out of a leg. Spasms may affect your trunk or your face muscles
- problems with vision including double vision (diplopia) and Uhthoff’s phenomenon which is the temporary worsening of symptoms caused by an increase in temperature
- swallowing difficulties (dysphagia)
- slurring of speech (dysarthria)
- weakness, usually in your legs or feet, which can cause unsteadiness or a fall
- lack of coordination (ataxia) which may cause you to stumble or drop things
- freezing of movement (akinesia) which is briefly being unable to move or only being able to move slowly or with extreme difficulty.
Find out more on the MS Trust website: https://mstrust.org.uk/a-z/paroxysmal-symptoms