Dealing With ALS: What You Should Know

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease) is a degenerative nervous disorder that currently has no known cure. Many people who do not know a person suffering from ALS know only that it is named after a famous baseball player. However, when someone you love is diagnosed with ALS, you quickly realize that you need to become better informed so that you can support and care for your affected family member.

What Does ALS Do To The Body?

ALS is a degenerative disease that affects the nervous system and progressively destroys the neurons in the brain and spinal cord. This affects the body in multiple ways, but the symptoms usually begin as muscle weakness in the extremities. Because the neurons continue to be destroyed, this muscle weakness will become worse and worse over time. If the muscle issues begin in a place other than extremities, such as the throat and face or chest, the severity of symptoms may be far higher.

Unfortunately, ALS has no cure at this time, and because it is degenerative, it will eventually be fatal. However, new technologies and treatments do serve to help increase life expectancy when a person is diagnosed.

What Type Of Emotional Help Is Available?

Because motor function is so greatly affected by the neurological effects of ALS, your loved one will require a great deal of support, both emotional and physical. And, of course, you will likely need support as well.

Going with your loved one with ALS to therapy or counseling with a psychologist or psychiatrist will help both of you to cope with the diagnosis and the progression of the disease. Counseling will help you both cope and deal with the situation and emotionally prepare yourself for the months and years to come.

You can also encourage your family member with ALS to join and attend support groups with other people going through similar situations. While there may not be an ALS-specific support group in your area, there are support groups for people with serious or terminal illnesses in which your loved ones can find solace and comfort.

What Type Of Physical Treatment Is Available?

While there is no cure for ALS, there are some treatments and assistive devices available. There is only one prescription drug currently approved for the treatment of ALS and is known as riluzole. This medication is known to slow the progression of the disease and symptoms

Physical therapy is also important in the treatment process for ALS. The exercises that a physical therapist gives your loved one to do will help to build up muscle strength and further slow the progress of ALS symptoms.

As symptoms progress and assistive devices such as walkers or braces become necessary, your loved one's physical therapist will be able to help them get accustomed to using those devices and to maintain mobility and their range of motion for as long as possible.

When your loved one is diagnosed with ALS, you may not know what to expect or how to handle the situation. However, you do know that you need to be there for them and support them. So, now that you know more about ALS and the treatment options, you will be able to be there for them as much as possible. If you're looking for a physical therapist for your loved one, visit Park Avenue Trauma Associates.

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