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chrest
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Joined: 12 May 2005
Posts: 20
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 Posted: 08/03/06 - 23:00 Post subject: ALS or Neuromuscular? |
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Hi, my father was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, when he asked for the other doctor’s opinion, he was told that he suffers from neuromuscular disease. I don’t know what is the difference between ALS and neuromuscular, and is there a difference at all?
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mcelwain
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Joined: 16 Sep 2001
Posts: 302
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| Posted: 08/14/06 - 13:31 Post subject: |
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Hi, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. It is a neurological disease that attacks neurons in the brain and in the spinal cord. Any voluntary movements like speech or swallowing are no longer possible, because brain can’t control muscle actions. It actuly depends on the area that is affected. If there are motor, sensory or autonomic symptoms like wasting, pain or incontinence, your father is suffering from neuromuscular disease. Risk of getting it increases with age up to 70 years. There is a drug- riluzole, which prolongs survival for several months for those people who suffer from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. This medicine reduces the damage to motor neurons. Unfortunately, the cure has not been found yet.
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