shingles

  Have you found any information regarding the onset of shingles and later symptoms of ALS???Thanks!
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Shingles is a condition caused by the Varicella zoster or chicken pox virus. After you get the chicken pox, the virus becomes dormant inside of certain nerve cells next to the spinal cord known as dorsal root ganglion cells. Sometimes, due to stress, old age, another infection or for no reason at all, the dormsant viruses in these nerve cells reactivate and reinfect you, spreading along all the nerve endings that arise from the particular batch of nerve cells in which the virus has reactivated. This produces a usually excruciatingly painful, red, bandlike area of rash on one side of the body, most often somewhere in the chest or abdomen in a half-belt like fashion. Rarely, in addition to the virus spreading outward along the nerve endings to the skin, the viruses can spread backwards into the spinal cord itself, and infect it, causing weakness, twitches (fasciculations) and wasting away of muscles in the affected areas, imitating ALS. This condition is called zoster myelitis. Unlike ALS, however, it is usually a time limited and space  limited (focal) process, but damage can be quite extensive and even permanent if treatment to stop the spread of the virus (with a medication like acyclovir or gancyclovir) is not initiated immediately upon recognition of these types of symptoms. Please remember that information provided on the forum is intended for general medical informational purposes only, and that the actual diagnosis and treatment of your specific medical condition should be strictly in conjunction with your treating physician(s). If you would be interested in a formal second opinion evaluation for your individual case at the Cleveland Clinic, the number is 1-800-223-2273 extension 45559. We hope you find the information helpful.