Orophyarnageal Dysphagia

[in61wpa]

I have been diagnosed with Orophyarngeal Dysphagia.   I am 46 years old and I was told I was too young for this to ust happen.  During a Modified Barium Swallow it was determined my muscles in my throat are not working and neither is my epiglottis.  My tongue is also extremely weak toward the back of my throat.  Are there several neurological diseases that can cause this diagnosis?  I also have extreme weakness in my extremities and my foot drags on the right side.   I also have a tremor of the right hand and arm.  If you shed any light on this diagnosis I would certainly appreciate it.

[DrKalraMD]

Hi, here is some quoted literature from website http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dysphagia

Listed here are some neurological disorders associated with oropharyngeal dysphagia

•Parkinson's disease can cause "multiple prepharyngeal, pharyngeal, and esophageal abnormalities". The severity of the disease most often correlates with the severity of the swallowing disorder.

•Neurologic disorders such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Bell's palsy, or myasthenia gravis can cause weakness of facial and lip muscles that are involved in coordinated mastication as well as weakness of other important muscles of mastication and swallowing.

•Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy is a genetic disease with palpebral ptosis, oropharyngeal dysphagia, and proximal limb weakness.