Early stage ALS

Because the diagnosis of ALS recognizes itself on pattern recognition, it takes an average of 10 months after the first symptoms before the diagnosis can be established with sufficient certainty. Initially, there are usually unclear symptoms such as muscle weakness and fatigue, starting in one of the limbs in the early stage of ALS. After a few months, symptoms in other limbs also follow. Due to deterioration of the muscles, simple actions such as turning on a faucet or climbing stairs become increasingly difficult in the early stage of ALS. In about a third of the people with symptoms, the symptoms start in the mouth and throat, problems with swallowing. There may also be a slight change in the voice in the early stage ALS.

 

The symptoms increase rapidly over time. How quickly varies from person to person. In some cases, the disease sometimes seems to be silent for a long time in the early stage, which can be a few months or years.

 

Side effects early stage ALS

The ascending nature of ALS has many physical problems and can be difficult to cope with mentally. People are confronted time and again with impending limitation of movement and therefore become increasingly dependent on others and resources. Because you become more dependent on other people in the earlier stages of the disease, the people around you such as for example the partner, family or others involved also suffer a lot. They also, especially if they are taking care, need understanding and support.

 

Symptoms of the early stage of ALS 

The first symptoms are often not very serious or clear yet. Patients usually come to the doctor with unclear symptoms, such as clumsiness, reduced ability to talk or difficulty walking. They sometimes notice that they stumble more often, choke, or have trouble buttoning up. The most common features of earlier-stage ALS are:

– Muscles in the arms or legs become weaker and result in; stiffness, cramping, and decrease in strength

– Difficulty with standing up, walking and twisting movements.

– Deterioration of speech and swallowing ability resulting in pneumonia; anxiety and gloom.

– Neck muscles weaken Hanging of the head due to decreased function of the neck muscles;

– difficulty breathing.

 

early stage als