Re: ALS Research

Posted By CCF neuro MD MM on November 16, 1998 at 20:58:55:

In Reply to: ALS Research posted by Freddy on November 16, 1998 at 19:12:14:






I recently read an article on the research being done into the suspected causes of ALS. One of the possible links indicated reversible trauma to the spinal cord. My question is, would a herniated cervical disc pressing on the cord and the subsequent corrective surgery and fusion constitute an increased risk for the disease?? I realize we are just speculating here,however I would be interested in your opinion. As always, thank you for the wonderful service the forum provides.




In diseases like ALS there are always new ideas regarding possible
risk factors, there has never been a proven link to spinal cord trauma,
and there is no documented link to cervical spine surgery.
Definitely the great majority of patients who present with the disease
have no history of this.
I am skeptical in any case as ALS does not only affect the spinal cord ,
it also affects neurons in the brain itself, thence the problems with
speech and swallowing. Some of the signs seen on examination also place the
problem considerably higher up in the area of the brainstem.
So my personal opinion is that this is definitely not the full story on ALS,
and at this stage I would be very skeptical of the theory.