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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffEarly signs and symptoms of ALS include:
- Difficulty lifting the front part of your foot and toes (footdrop)
- Weakness in your leg, feet or ankles
- Hand weakness or clumsiness
- Slurring of speech or trouble swallowing
- Muscle cramps and twitching in your arms, shoulders and tongue
The disease frequently begins in your hands, feet or limbs, and then spreads to other parts of your body. As the disease advances, your muscles become progressively weaker until they're paralyzed. It eventually affects chewing, swallowing, speaking and breathing.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/amyotrophiclateralsclerosis/detail_amyotrophiclateralsclerosis.htm. Accessed Sept. 18, 2008.
- Elman LB, et al. Clinical features of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 18, 2008.
- Maragakis NJ, et al. Epidemiology and pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 18, 2008.
- McCluskey L. Familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 18, 2008.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Sept. 19, 2008.
- ALS in the military: Unexpected consequences of military service. ALS Association. http://www.alsa.org/files/pdf/als_military_paper.pdf. Accessed Sept. 19, 2008.
- Elman LB, et al. Diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 19, 2008.
- Galvez-Jimenez N, et al. Symptom-based management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 19, 2008.
- Choudry RB, et al. Pharmacologic treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 19, 2008.
- Why is exercise important? In: Everyday Life With ALS: A Practical Guide. Muscular Dystrophy Association. http://www.als-mda.org/publications/everydaylifeals/ch8/. Accessed Sept. 19, 2008.
- Radunovic A, et al. Clinical care of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Lancet Neurology. 2007;6(10):913-925.
- Lyon M. Reasons for living with ALS. ALS Association. http://www.alsa.org/patient/living.cfm?CFID=1025297&CFTOKEN=f8c064e9dbbd397-7B4C955C-188B-2E62-8049290070F4DFA9. Accessed Sept. 19, 2008.
- Good practice in the management of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Clinical guidelines. An evidence-based review with good practice points. Umea, Sweden: EALSC Working Group. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. 2007;8:195-213.
- Crum BA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Oct. 21, 2008.
