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Neurology (Expert Forum)
Bulbar ALS
Answered by
Lama Chahine, MD - Neurology
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland - OH
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.
Bulbar ALS
by lpp12, Feb 06, 2009 09:35AM
Hi,
I had an EMG done last week as I have been experiencing twitching, tongue weakness, tongue indentations, and hand/foot weakness along with some dystonia. My eyes also twitch uncontrollably when closed. The EMG came back normal but the doctor did not do a tongue EMG. Would Bulbar ALS be picked up by doing the EMG along my spine and back of my neck or does it specifically have to be on the tongue?
Thanks very much for your time.
I had an EMG done last week as I have been experiencing twitching, tongue weakness, tongue indentations, and hand/foot weakness along with some dystonia. My eyes also twitch uncontrollably when closed. The EMG came back normal but the doctor did not do a tongue EMG. Would Bulbar ALS be picked up by doing the EMG along my spine and back of my neck or does it specifically have to be on the tongue?
Thanks very much for your time.
Doctor's Answer
by Lama Chahine, MD, Feb 08, 2009 06:47PM
, Feb 08, 2009 06:47PM
Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.
Bulbar onset ALS occurs in 15-20% of ALS patients, most often occurs in older patients (around 70 years old) and is less common in patients in their 30s. Limb involvement occurs within 1-2 years in the majority. Symptoms of bulbar ALS include tongue weakness and fasciculations, inability to swallow saliva leading to excessive oral saliva with drooling and difficulty swallowing.
In general, if a patient is having weakness of the hand and foot, then an EMG would have picked up ALS even if the twitching is localized to the tongue. The diagnosis of ALS requires EMG abnormalities to be demonstrated in at least 2 areas of the central nervous system, and while in some cases jaw or tongue EMG is performed, this is not always necessary for a diagnosis to be made if abnormalities in the limbs or other muscle areas can be demonstrated.
Continued follow-up with your neurologist is recommended, and discussion of the above question and your other questions and concerns with him/her is important.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
Bulbar onset ALS occurs in 15-20% of ALS patients, most often occurs in older patients (around 70 years old) and is less common in patients in their 30s. Limb involvement occurs within 1-2 years in the majority. Symptoms of bulbar ALS include tongue weakness and fasciculations, inability to swallow saliva leading to excessive oral saliva with drooling and difficulty swallowing.
In general, if a patient is having weakness of the hand and foot, then an EMG would have picked up ALS even if the twitching is localized to the tongue. The diagnosis of ALS requires EMG abnormalities to be demonstrated in at least 2 areas of the central nervous system, and while in some cases jaw or tongue EMG is performed, this is not always necessary for a diagnosis to be made if abnormalities in the limbs or other muscle areas can be demonstrated.
Continued follow-up with your neurologist is recommended, and discussion of the above question and your other questions and concerns with him/her is important.
Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.
