Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Case Study Essay -- Case Study

Case Study A thirty six year old mannish has developed severe muscle weakness throughout the body. The condition began fifteen months ago with a left foot drop and within a year, he described difficulty with speech and swallowing, muscle twitching and cramping, and muscular atrophy throughout the upper and lower limbs. Within the last two months, his breathing has force more difficult, and there has been a noticeable difference in his voice. Prior to the fifteen months, he presented little to no symptoms. The patient, a medical doctor, has a wife and two young children. What began as seemingly innocent muscle weakness and cramping has lead to this patients fatal diagnosis. He is one of 2.5 per 100,000 people ecumenic who have been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and will mostly likely die of respiratory failure within 2 to 3 years. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or ALS is a is a highly degenerative disease involving the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord th at control voluntary movement. The disease is sometimes referred to as Lou Gehrigs after the New York Yankees baseball player who was diagnosed with ALS in 1939. The disease causes degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. These neurons connect the brain stem and spinal cord to muscle fibers and send electric impulses to the muscles. Without proper communication, the muscles begin to weaken and atrophy. Individuals with ALS will lose their ability for voluntary muscular control. Usually, vesica and bowel control are spared, though this is not always the case. Cognitive functions and sensory nerves are also typically spared, but the affected individuals whitethorn present symptoms of dementia.Initial symptoms generally include muscular weak... ...ological degeneration could happen in such a swift manner. I only hope that a better understanding of the causes of ALS can help find a cure. Works CitedALSInfo Lou Gherigs Disease (ALS) Internet. 2011. Sanofi aventis US LLC last updated 2011 November 8 cited 2012 March 22. Available from http//www.alsinfo.com/ convert SM. 2001. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Update on Anatomy, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Management. In Riolo L, editor. Topics in Physical Therapy Neurology. American Physical Therapy Association. Lesson 9.McKinley MP, OLoughlin VD. 2006. Nervous System Disorders. In Wheatley CH, editor. Human anatomy. 2nd ed. capital of Massachusetts (MA) McGraw-Hill Higher Education. p 431.Umphred DA. 2001. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. In Allen A, Zipperlen R, editors. Neurological rehabilitation. 4th ed. St. Louis (MO) Mosby. p 363-385.