Question 1

my father, who is 65, is dying of als or: lou gherigs disease. how painful will his death be?  and what are the signs hes getting close to dying?

Accepted Answer

So sorry: ALS is a nasty disease, and many pts have pain, but this can easily be controlled with analgesics, and strong opioids would not be inappropriate.  Most pts die from infection, such as pneumonia, so, a fever and trouble breathing might be a sign of problems.  Usually, toward the end, a hospice is marvelous for palliation, emotional support, and understanding.

Question 2

in als and other neurological diseases, how rapid is muscle weakness and/or atrophy? if i have gone almost a full year, if not longer and have not experienced obvious muscle weakness or atrophy does this rule it out?

Accepted Answer

Varies: The weakness from different neurological diseases varies greatly from person to person. Some people can go decades without weakness developing, others progress rapidly. My husband has had MS for 26 years and is still walking. Please see a neurologist yearly if you have concerns so they can compare your strength and reflexes from bvb year to CV year.

Question 3

is lou gehrig's disease hereditary?

Accepted Answer

Some are: Research shows that about 5% of cases are hereditary.

Question 4

will i die from lou gehrig's disease?

Accepted Answer

See your doctor: I really feel that this is a question that is best addressed face to face with an experienced physician you trust. I wish you all the best!

Question 5

what goes wrong in lou gehrig's disease?

Accepted Answer

Nerve cell death: Nerve celles  that produce movement begin to die causing weakness that affects the arms and legs and eventually the muscles that control swallow and speech.

Question 6

does lou gehrig's disease affect men only?

Accepted Answer

No: The disease affects men more often, but women make up 40% of the cases.

Question 7

how fast does lou gehrig's disease progress?

Accepted Answer

GORK: It is unpredictable of how fast ALS (lou gehrig disease) will end up in death. It depends on the person, its presenting symptoms, the velocity of progression, institution of treatment etc. There's only one medication approved for that by far called riluzol. In most cases, though, it progresses to significant disability in a matter of 2-3 years.

Question 8

how can find out if have lou gehrig's disease?

Accepted Answer

ALS?: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is characterized by stiff muscles, muscle twitching, and gradually worsening weakness due to muscles decreasing in size. The cause is not known in 90% to 95% of the time and  5–10% of cases are inherited from a person's parents.  Diagnosis of ALS is primarily based on the symptoms and signs and an EMG to differentiate from other conditions. Neurologists treat this.

Question 9

what medicines are use for lou gehrig's disease?

Accepted Answer

Treatment: It's mostly supportive, but a drug called Riluzole is approved for ALS and it's thought to work by decreasing glutamate mediated motor neuron cell death.

Question 10

has anyone ever lived with lou gehrig's disease?

Accepted Answer

Can happen: For example, astronomer Stephen Hawking, has lived for years with disease, but has numerous mechanical and computer devices to allow his functioning.  The usual case is death within 3-5 yrs after diagnosis.

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Doctor answers about:

How long do you live with lou gehrig s disease

A member asked:

My father, who is 65, is dying of als or: lou gherigs disease. how painful will his death be? and what are the signs hes getting close to dying?

A member asked:

In als and other neurological diseases, how rapid is muscle weakness and/or atrophy? if i have gone almost a full year, if not longer and have not experienced obvious muscle weakness or atrophy does this rule it out?

A member asked:

Is lou gehrig's disease hereditary?

A member asked:

Will i die from lou gehrig's disease?

A member asked:

What goes wrong in lou gehrig's disease?

A member asked:

Does lou gehrig's disease affect men only?

A member asked:

How fast does lou gehrig's disease progress?

A member asked:

How can find out if have lou gehrig's disease?

A member asked:

What medicines are use for lou gehrig's disease?

A member asked:

Has anyone ever lived with lou gehrig's disease?

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