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Neurology (Expert Forum)
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This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury
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by robertsb55, Apr 22, 2004 12:00AM
i'm a 58 year old man who has had progressive weakness of both of my legs-R worse than L causing me to walk with a slightly spastic gait. it has signficantly worsened over the last two months to point that at times i cannot get up. I have also noticed my speech is mildly slurred. I have no pain or sensory deficits. My R leg is atrophic and is noticeably weaker than the right but both legs are clearly weaker proximally. I am mildly hyperreflexive but have always been hyperreflexive to a degree. I have upgoing toes and my son has elicited 5-6 beats of clonus (he is a med student). I do not have any fasciculations or any family history of als. It appears I have upper/lower motor neuron disease in same extremity Is there any other possible diagnosis besides ALS? Could anything impinge on the spinal column that could cause both slurred speech and b/l leg weakness as I have an MRI scheduled for tomorrow but I am not sure what they are looking for?
thanks,
Brett
thanks,
Brett
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS, Apr 25, 2004 12:00AM
An impingment in the spinal cord should not cause slurred speech. The nerves which supply to muscles of the mouth and throat come from the brainstem. However, I think it is reasonable to image the spine, and the brain to exclude the possibility that there are two things occurring. You need to see a neurologist who can perform an examination and confirm the abnormal findings. Then an EMG and the MRI's I mentioned above may be completed. Then an accurate diagnosis can be established and treatment options be considered. I do not think you should assume this is ALS. If you exclude the slurred speech, this all could be related to a compression of the low cervical or thoracic spinal cord. Also, primary muscle diseases need to be excluded. You should discuss this with your neurologist. Good luck.
Hopefully you will get some answers from your MRI,which will help you.
Good luck let us know how you get on
Gill