Before I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), I ignored my symptoms for a long time. Looking back now, I can see that these were the first signs. In this post, I want to share how my early MS symptoms appeared and why it took me so long to see a doctor.

The First Small Signs

Our dog passed away in the autumn of 2023.

When he was still alive, I took him for a walk every day. We often spent 1.5 to 2 hours walking, covering several kilometers at a time. I never felt tired.

I didn’t notice anything unusual. Occasionally, I would trip over my own feet, but that was about it.

I searched online for possible explanations. I read about the sensation of having “heavy legs.” On my mother’s side of the family, many people have leg problems—difficulty walking, varicose veins, and similar issues. So I found a reasonable explanation for my symptoms.

Balance Problems

I also had balance issues, but I didn’t think much of them. A yoga instructor once told me that if someone has balance problems, it means there is a lack of balance in their life.

I thought that must be the reason and that I needed to work on improving the balance in my own life. Maybe I wasn’t spending enough time with my family because of my job and my business. Maybe I wasn’t paying enough attention to my daughter. These were the thoughts running through my mind.

Funny, isn’t it?

Today I know that balance problems can be one of the symptoms of MS, but at the time that possibility never even crossed my mind.

When I Could No Longer Run

After my dog’s death, I stopped walking altogether. The daily walks disappeared from my routine. To be honest, exercise had never really been part of my life anyway—I only exercised when I had to. Besides, every walk reminded me of Topi, and that was painful.

The winter of 2023–2024 arrived. I stayed at home and occasionally used a step machine for exercise.

Then, in the spring of 2024, I decided to join my husband—who is a regular runner—and start running myself.

We went to a nearby park.

That’s when I realized I couldn’t run.

I mean, I couldn’t properly lift my left foot. After just a few meters, I had to stop and rest.

My husband suggested that I gradually increase the distance. He thought I was simply out of shape and no longer used to intense exercise, which seemed like a reasonable explanation. After a few weeks, I stopped trying and switched back to walking.

My psychiatrist had also recommended walking to help manage my depression. I could easily walk 5–6 kilometers without stopping and without feeling tired. I did this at least three times a week until winter arrived again.

Why Didn’t I See a Doctor?

Then came the winter of 2024–2025. Once again, the walks stopped and only the step machine remained.

At that point, it never occurred to me to see a doctor. I had never been an athletic person, and I assumed my body simply wasn’t built for running.

Honestly, I always managed to find some explanation for my symptoms. I kept reassuring myself that everything was probably fine.

The Turning Point

Spring 2025 arrived, and I wanted to become active again.

By then, I couldn’t run even a single meter. Walking was still possible, but I started tripping more and more often. By the end of a walk, I couldn’t even maintain a brisk pace. I could no longer lift my foot the way I normally would and instead had to use a strange twisting movement.

That was the moment I decided to see a doctor.

Looking Back, These Were My First MS Symptoms

• Frequent tripping
• Balance problems
• Difficulty lifting my foot
• Trouble running
• Unsteady walking
• Gradually worsening mobility

At the time, I had no idea that these were the first symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis.

In my next post, I’ll share the medical tests I went through before finally receiving my diagnosis.