Common "Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis" queries answered by top doctors | iCliniq

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS is a degenerative motor neuron disease, meaning, it affects the nerve cells. The brain loses control over the voluntary muscles, causing inability to move around, speak, eat and eventually even breathe. Early symptoms include muscle twitching, weakness of legs and arms, and speech difficulties. Currently, there is no cure for this disease.

Recently Answered Questions Recently Answered Questions

All the answers published in this website are written by verified medical doctors, therapists and health experts. The Content has been moderated by iCliniq medical review team before publication. Post your medical clarifications on iCliniq by choosing the right specialty and get them answered. Your medical queries will be answered 24/7 by top doctors from iCliniq.

I suspect of having ALS. Please help.

Query: Hi doctor, About five weeks ago, I started feeling some weakness in my left leg. I have consulted my family doctor and a neurologist. All physical tests showed no actual weakness. There were no other clinical signs and the reflexes were also normal. There is no activity or movement that I cannot do....  Read Full »


Dr. J. Mariano Anto Bruno Mascarenhas

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. The various symptoms you have described are due to L5-S1 moderate broad left paracentral disc protrusion mildly distorted the anterior aspect of the thecal sac and abutting without displacing the traversing nerve roots. When a disc prolapses and compresses the spinal cor...  Read Full »

Is twitching in my calf muscle a sign of early onset of ALS?

Query: Hello doctor, I am a 25-year-old female and I am afraid I have ALS. This started with twitching in my right calf muscle two months ago and that has now spread to everywhere. A clinical exam showed slightly asymmetrical brisk knee reflex, and it is brisker on the right leg where it bothers me, not ...  Read Full »


Dr. M. A. Toyeb, Nazma Parveen

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I can completely understand your concern. First of all, ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is a condition which requires time to diagnose especially when it is in the initial stages. You said you experience twitching in your muscles. Do you have any other problem...  Read Full »

I have intermittent twitching. Should I be worried?

Query: Hi doctor, I had intermittent twitching all over my body for the last two months. I finally went to see my general practitioner (GP) and he ran a plethora of blood tests and said that my vitamin B12, iron, and vitamin D were all really low. Since starting my vitamin supplements two days ago, the twi...  Read Full »


Dr. Ashok Kumar

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I have gone through the provided details and understand your concerns. It can be proved that your concern is really paranoid (no offense) and there is no substance for such thoughts. I mean to say that this is unfounded belief and there is no rational for at least today....  Read Full »

Do symptoms like swallowing difficulty and muscle twitches indicate ALS?

Query: Hi doctor,About two months ago, I started experiencing difficulty swallowing solid foods. I visited my PCP, who ordered a swallow study. Results from the swallow study came back normal, nothing neuro-muscular. Additionally, I had an endoscopy and a laparoscopy. Both concluded evidence of LPR/GERD. I...  Read Full »


Dr. Gursimran Singh

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. First of all, I am so sorry about your symptoms. The first symptom is difficulty swallowing solids. Now mainly neurological and neuromuscular weakness leading to difficulty in swallowing is always for liquids and not for solids. So the symptom is that patients cannot sw...  Read Full »

I am having muscle twitching at 51 years of age. Kindly suggest.

Query: Hello doctor, I am 51 years old and have been experiencing muscle twitches several times an hour for almost three to four weeks. I have had no muscle weakness or imbalance. Sometimes, I experience sharp pain, but the muscle twitches last only a few seconds. They happen anywhere on my body, including...  Read Full »


Dr. Abhaya Kant Tewari

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for the detailed history. Your reports (attachments removed to protect the patients' identity) suggest that you are suffering from simple benign fasciculation syndrome, characterized by random twitching of muscles affecting various body parts. There is no p...  Read Full »

Are leg weakness and discomfort symptoms of multiple sclerosis?

Query: Hi doctor, Since few months, I have had leg weakness, but they are not actually weak. They just feel like it. And also feels heavy sometimes. I also have slight shakiness in hands and shooting pains in my left knee. The cardiology checkup was normal, CT scan done a month ago was normal except for an...  Read Full »


Dr. Hitesh Kumar

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I would like to know some details about your symptoms: 1. since when do you have the symptoms? How long was the duration? Was it of sudden onset or developed slowly over time? 2. How exactly do you feel in your legs? What activities seem difficult with legs - getti...  Read Full »

Is twitching in different body parts a sign of ALS?

Query: Hello doctor, I am an anxious guy and often have twitching in different parts of my body. But now I can feel twitching in my stomach too. I read that this is not common and could be an early sign of ALS. Do I need to worry?  Read Full »


Dr. Seyedaidin Sajedi

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for your query. I suggest you to give me a few more details: How long do you have these muscle twitches? Do you have weakness or muscle wastage (atrophy) in any limb, especially in distal parts of the hands or feet? Thank you.  Read Full »

I am experiencing body muscle twitches. Could it be ALS?

Query: Hello doctor, I am worried that I have ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Three weeks ago, I had an episode of nerve pain. Burning in the back, feet, etc. Sometimes it feels like I have ice on my back. I also had shooting pain in several areas of my body, like an electrical shock. A couple of days...  Read Full »


Dr. Seyedaidin Sajedi

Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I reassure you that your symptoms do not suggest ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). ALS is a motor disease that does not cause any sensory problems. Moreover, it is a slowly progressive disease that almost always initiates from one limb and slowly progresses to ano...  Read Full »

My partner had an electric shock a year ago and still has a shock-like feeling and pain. Why?

Query: Hello doctor, My partner got an electric shock to his right arm a year ago. Ever since then, he has felt like he is constantly shocked, and he has been unable to move his arm properly. He is on 750 mg of Lyrica a day to control the shock-like feeling and pain. However, the hand movement has not retu...  Read Full »


Dr. Ramesh Kumar S

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. Cases of motor neuron disease are seen after electric shocks. Most likely, your partner is experiencing wasting of muscles due to motor neuron disease post the electric shock. A motor neuron (or motoneuron) is a nerve cell, which directly or indirectly controls the effec...  Read Full »

Are tingling in hands and legs due to carpal tunnel or ALS?

Query: Hello doctor, I have tingling in my hands for a few years, and now I am feeling tingling off and on in my feet and legs with occasional inner tremors. I had all my blood work done to test for diabetes, thyroid, vitamin deficiency, comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP) and complete blood count (CBC) al...  Read Full »


Dr. Anshul Varshney

Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. These symptoms do not look like ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis). Moreover, carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has been established in your reports. Anxiety and CTS are more than enough to cause these symptoms. So, my recommendation is that you should start on Pregabalin 75...  Read Full »

ask-doctor-img Ask a Doctor Online

* Your first query consult is free!

Search for a Health Issue



Disclaimer: No content published on this website is intended to be a substitute for professional medical diagnosis, advice or treatment by a trained physician. Seek advice from your physician or other qualified healthcare providers with questions you may have regarding your symptoms and medical condition for a complete medical diagnosis. Do not delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice because of something you have read on this website. Read our Editorial Process to know how we create content for health articles and queries.