Lou Gehrig’s disease is the common name for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurological disease that affects nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. Early symptoms can be subtle and vary from person to person.
Common early signs may include:
- Muscle weakness in one area, such as a hand, arm, leg, or face
- Twitching (fasciculations) of muscles, often noticed in the arms, legs, or tongue
- Muscle cramps or stiffness
- Trouble with fine movements, such as buttoning clothes, writing, or handling objects
- Changes in walking, tripping more often, or difficulty climbing stairs
- Slurred speech or difficulty projecting the voice
- Trouble swallowing in some people
- Unexplained muscle shrinking (atrophy) in affected areas
ALS usually does not begin with pain, dizziness, or numbness, although discomfort can occur later due to muscle weakness, stiffness, or reduced mobility.
Many symptoms that resemble ALS can also come from much more common and treatable conditions (such as nerve compression, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid problems, medication effects, or other neurological disorders). A diagnosis requires evaluation by a medical professional, often including a neurological exam and tests such as EMG/nerve conduction studies.
If you’re asking because of symptoms you’re experiencing, tell me:
- Your age
- What symptoms you’ve noticed
- When they started
- Whether you have weakness, muscle twitching, numbness/tingling, or pain
and I can help you think through what questions to bring to a doctor.
