Side amyotrophic sclerosis

The side amyotrophic sclerosis or disease of motor neurons is the wearisome disease of various etiology which is characterized by quickly progressing weakness, an atrophy of muscles, spasticity of muscles, problems with the speech (dysarthtia), a swallowing zatrudnennost (dysphagy) and a zatrudnennost of breath (asthma). The side amyotrophic sclerosis is the most widespread of five diseases of motor neurons. Muscular weakness and an atrophy of all body are caused by a degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. Muscles which are not able to function weaken and atrophy. The diseased finally they can lose ability to initiate and control all autokinesias.

Symptoms of a side amyotrophic sclerosis

Early symptoms of a side amyotrophic sclerosis, as a rule, are obvious weakness and an atrophy of muscles. Other symptoms include muscular twitching, spasms, rigidity of the affected muscles and the muffled speech. The condition of the parts of a body which were injured from early symptoms of a side amyotrophic sclerosis depends on what motor neurons in an organism were injured first of all.

At about 75% of the muscles which ached an atrophy begins with hands or legs. Patients with an atrophy of legs can feel awkward during the walking or run, to stumble and fall to the ground. Patients with an atrophy of hands can experience difficulty in the movements demanding sleight of hand such as fastening of buttons, a zasovyvaniye or turning of a key in the lock. Sometimes symptoms extend only to one extremity during a long span or throughout all disease.

At about 25% of patients the disease begins with difficulty to speak or swallow. The speech can become muffled and very silent. Other symptoms include the complicated swallowing and loss of mobility of language.

At a smaller part of patients the disease begins with an atrophy of intercostal muscles which support breath.

Over time at all diseased such symptoms of a side amyotrophic sclerosis as are shown:

• Difficulty of movement;
• Problems with swallowing (dysphagy) and formation of the speech or words (dysarthtia);
• Rigidity of muscles (spasticity);
• Hyperreflexia (including a hyperactivity of an emetic reflex);
• Muscular spasms;
• Fleeting twitchings of muscles.

About 15-45% of patients feel pseudobulbar affect (emotional lability) which is shown in uncontrollable laughter, the patient sharply begins to cry or smile, exaggeratedly to express the emotions.

Though the order and speed of symptoms varies from the person to the person, eventually, most of the patients who are not able to go, get out of a bed independently or to use the hands. Speed of progressing can be measured, using the functional scale of a side amyotrophic sclerosis which is defined by the clinical conversation consisting of 12 questions.

Progressing of a disease, as a rule, more slowly at patients who are younger than 40 years – a disease is limited generally to one extremity.

Symptoms of a late stage of a side amyotrophic sclerosis are:

• The complicated swallowing and the chewing of food which are given through effort and increasing risk of suffocation or aspiration of food in lungs;
• Weakness of a diaphragm and intercostal muscles which support breath and functions of lungs, such as forcing of vital capacity of lungs and reduction of inspiratory pressure.

Most of people with a side amyotrophic sclerosis die of respiratory insufficiency, as a rule, within three-five years from the moment of emergence of symptoms. Average life expectancy from the beginning to death makes about 39 months, and only 4% live longer, than 10 years.

Treatment of a side amyotrophic sclerosis

Treatment of a side amyotrophic sclerosis is done by means of a medicine of Riluzole (Rilutek) which is the only medicine which is a little improving and slowing down progressing of a disease. It extends survival for several months, and for bigger term extends life of patients with an initial stage of a side amyotrophic sclerosis. It also increases time before ventilating support is necessary for the person.

Other methods of treatment of a side amyotrophic sclerosis are directed to relief of symptoms and improvement of quality of life of patients. It is a maintenance therapy which is provided best of all by multi-profile physicians, and also the medical staff capable to support mobile and comfortable conditions for patients.

Health workers can appoint drugs which help to reduce fatigue, to relax muscles from spasms, to control spasticity and to reduce excess salivation and phlegms. These drugs also help patients to reduce pain, a depression, sleep disorders, a dysphagy and locks. Baclofenum and diazepam are often appointed for control of the spasticity caused by a side amyotrophic sclerosis, and trigeksifenidit or amitriptyline can be ordered when patients with a side amyotrophic sclerosis have problems with saliva swallowing.