Many symptoms of MS — fatigue, brain fog, pain — aren’t always obvious, so the disease is sometimes regarded as ‘invisible,’ leaving people with MS feeling unheard and unseen.
Many hallmark symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS) — fatigue, cog fog, pain — aren’t always obvious, so it’s sometimes regarded as an “invisible” disease. This can leave people with MS feeling unheard and unseen and create unique issues, from misunderstandings about the condition by others to a reluctance to speak up when feeling ill.
For example, even well-meaning friends may not get it when you cancel plans at the last minute because a flare hits out of the blue. Or, you may worry that if you ask for accommodations at work, you’ll sound as though you can’t do your job.
Many MS Symptoms Are Invisible to Others
“Some symptoms people commonly associate with MS relate to difficulty walking — an obvious consequence of MS,” says psychologist Kevin Alschuler, PhD, director of rehabilitation research at the Multiple Sclerosis Center at University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. But, he adds, the vast majority of MS symptoms aren’t so obvious in reality.
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