Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ELA, is a degenerative disease that causes the destruction of neurons responsible for the movement of voluntary muscles, resulting in progressive paralysis that eventually prevents simple tasks such as walking, chewing or talking, for example.
Over time, the disease causes a decrease in muscle strength, especially in the arms and legs, and in more advanced cases, the affected person becomes paralyzed and their muscles begin to atrophy, becoming thinner and thinner.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is not yet cured.
- But treatment with physiotherapy and drugs.
- Such as riluzole.
- Help slow disease progression and maintain as much independence as possible in daily activities.
- Learn more about this medicine used in treatment.
The first symptoms of ELA are difficult to identify and vary from person to person. In some cases it is more common for the person to start tripping over carpets, while in others it is difficult to write, lift an object or speak correctly, for example.
However, as the disease progresses, symptoms become more obvious and manifest:
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis only appears in motor neurons and therefore the person, even in the development of paralysis, manages to maintain all his senses of smell, taste, touch, vision and hearing.
Diagnosis is not easy, and therefore your doctor may perform several tests, such as CT or MRI, to rule out other conditions that may result in lack of strength before suspecting ELA, such as severe myasthenia.
Following the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, each patient’s life expectancy varies between 3 and 5 years, but there have also been cases of higher life expectancy, such as Stephen Hawking’s who has lived with the disease for more than 50 years.
The causes of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are not yet fully known. Some cases of the disease are caused by a buildup of toxic proteins in the neurons that control the muscles, which is more common in men 40 to 50 years old, but in some cases, AI can also be caused by an inherited genetic defect, possibly transmitted from parent to child.
The treatment of ELA should be guided by a neurologist and usually begins with the use of the drug Riluzol, which helps reduce the damage caused in neurons, delaying the progression of the disease.
In addition, when the disease is diagnosed in its early stages, your doctor may also recommend physical therapy treatment. In more advanced cases, painkillers, such as tramadol, may be used to reduce discomfort and pain caused by muscle degeneration.
As the disease progresses, paralysis spreads to other muscles and eventually affects the respiratory muscles, requiring hospitalization to breathe with devices.
Physical therapy for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis involves the use of exercises that improve blood circulation, delaying muscle destruction caused by the disease.
In addition, the physical therapist may also recommend and teach the use of a wheelchair, for example, to facilitate the daily activities of the ELA patient.