I am seeing a ms specialist to rule in or out ms (not diagnosed). my uncle just died of als. can als wax and wane early in the disease?

Not like MS: In ALS you lose motor neuron function. It is a progressive disease. ALS can be mild at first and then progress but you do not get the return to normal function that you often see with relapsing remitting MS.

Not known to do such: The description of ALS is one of a progressive unremitting motor neuron disease affecting upper and lower elements of the nervous system.This means that it's course is progressive getting worse with time. However, early on depending on how some people interpret things they certainly could feel better one day and worse the next. Hard call. Talk more? www.healthtap.com/drsaghafi

Not specifically: 85% of all MS cases are of the relapsing/ remitting form, where rather abrupt deterioration may occur, and slow remission over a period of days to weeks. Waxing and waning is not the usual course of ALS, as most characteristically there is a slow ongoing deterioration over months to years. Hope this helps clarify.

It could: ALS does not get expressed the same way in every person. So life expectancy can vary a lot. Muscle fasciculations is one of the hallmark features of the disease process so if this is not present it makes it less likely to consider. Early in the disease u could have a combination of upper motor neuron signs: spasticity, brisk reflexes and LMN signs: atrophy,, weakness, etc. EMG aids in the Dx.