help

[robertsb55]

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

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-CS]

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.

[Angel_Eyes]

There are other conditions that could cause the same symptoms other than ALS. I have a blood disorder which has caused me to have polyneuropathy. Because of my neuropathy, I have a lot of the same symptoms that you are expiriencing.

[GILL41]

Hi Brett
Hopefully you will get some answers from your MRI,which will help you.

Good luck let us know how you get on

Gill