Q. What is the chance of getting ALS if someone in the family had it?
Hello doctor,
My grandfather died of ALS, and now I am having signs of it. He is the only one that we know of that had it in the family. So my first question is, what are the chances of me getting it? The second question is I twitch in my left arm, left hand, left leg, and left calve non-stop. Sometimes I get it on my right side but it is more frequent on the left side. So is this BFS? I had a clean EMG three months ago, but I have started twitching more and have more weakness/soreness. If I had an EMG but did not twitch during the EMG, would it have still picked up ALS, or does the EMG just work when you twitch? The last thing is my vastus lateralis muscle on my left leg has twitched non-stop for six months and gets a painful soreness sometimes. Could this be ALS?
Hello,
Welcome to icliniq.com.
I understand your concerns.
ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is familial in only 10 % of the cases.
The diagnosis is mainly clinical (with characteristic symptoms). EMG and NCS (nerve conduction studies) may help in the diagnosis, symptoms include:
1. Fasciculations (muscle twitches) in the arm, leg, shoulder, or tongue.
2. Muscle cramps.
3. Tight and stiff muscles (spasticity).
4. Muscle weakness affecting an arm, leg, neck, or diaphragm.
5. Slurred and nasal speech.
6. Difficulty chewing or swallowing.
If you have some of these symptoms, the neurological examination is required.
Was this answer helpful?
|Same symptoms doesn’t mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!
Related Questions:
Do I also need benzodiazepine to control my anxiety problem?
I have had depression and anxiety for the past 15 years ... In my opinion, Zoloft is an SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) class of drugs which is one of the best anti-anxiety and antidepression medicines . Read full
What is the chance of getting ALS if someone in the family had it?fasciculations (muscle twitches) in the arm, leg, shoulder, or tongue ... Read full
Kindly tell me whether the cramps I am experiencing are due to ALS or MND.The fasciculations and muscle cramps could be related to benign fasciculation syndrome, which is usually encountered in sensitive persons and not related to any medi Read full
Also Read Answers From:
Comprehensive Medical Second Opinion.Submit your Case
iCliniq's FREE Newsletters
Expert-backed health and wellness information, delivered to your email.
Thank you for subscribing to our Newsletters!
Also Read
PCOS and Liver Problems
The hormonal imbalances in polycystic ovary syndrome could cause liver diseases. Read the article to know the relationship between these medical conditions. Read more»
Inferior Alveolar Nerve Lateralization Technique
The inferior alveolar nerve lateralization technique is a surgical lateralization technique to reposition the nerve. Read the article to know more about this. Read more»
COVID-19 and Ebola: Similarities and Differences
This article gives a comparison and broader overview of the outbreak of the two deadliest diseases that showed a greater incidence over the last two decades. Read more»
Ask your health query to a doctor online?
Ask an Internal Medicine Physician Now* guaranteed answer within 4 hours.