Symptoms and Diagnosis of Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotropic Lateral Sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a degenerative disease that affects the neurons in the body. Although rare, there are around 20,000 people in the US currently suffering from this disease, and around 5,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. It has been seen that people between the ages of 40 and 60 years are susceptible to Lou Gehrig's, but even young people can be diagnosed with it.

The symptoms in the early stages of the disease include numbness in the arms and legs, pain in the muscles, muscular fatigue, and twitching of the muscles. A person suffering from this disease will find it difficult to lift or pull objects due to the weakening of the muscles. Even mundane tasks like washing or dressing can be difficult. As the motor neurons degenerate, the person is unable to move his or her arms. The person may also begin losing strength in the muscles of the legs which causes problems while walking, falling, and tripping. As the leg muscles are unable to support the weight of the person, it is quite common for people suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis to have frequent loss of balance. In addition, it has been seen that people suffering from this disease are unable to keep a check on their emotions and may end up laughing or crying excessively.

In the later stages of the disease, all the above symptoms are present along with slurring of speech. As the disease progresses, the person will find it difficult to chew and swallow food and drinks. Also, there is a loss of control over voluntary movements and this may cause the person to be bound to a wheelchair. As the weakness of the muscles progresses toward the chest, it affects the respiratory muscles leading to shallow breathing. However, this is also the last stage of the disease as once the effect on the respiratory muscles worsens, the person will be put on a ventilator and this means that death is imminent.

Usually, people suffering from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis tend to ignore the early symptoms of the disease. Hence, most diagnoses are made when the disease has progressed. Some of the diagnostic tools used to make a diagnosis include an electromyogram, nerve conduction velocity test, extracting the spinal fluid and analyzing it, MRI scans, X-rays, blood tests, urine tests, and biopsy of the affected muscle.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. However, getting early treatment for the disease can help to improve the quality of life of the person.