ALS, Lou Gehrig Disease Forum - Ankles and achilles tendon : ALS / Lou Gehrig Disease ?

You wrote: "Current medical status: I'm very confused, for around 4 years I've had problems with my ankles and achilles tendon. After exercise I'd have severe pain and at that point I stopped playing all sports. (Possibly unrelated considering this effects both my ankles, before this happened I fractured my tibia in my left leg.) Recently the pain has increased in both of my ankles, as well moved to my knees. My knees now hurt consistantly and have occassional spasms when I don't have weight on them. In school we had a teacher give a speach about ALS, and it scared me, it seemed that his story is what I'm starting to go through (except that he was 51, and I'm 17...) I've had x-rays done, which showed nothing. I have yet to get an MRI, although I'm planning that. I go to a chiropractor (They're not recognized as actual medicine, but he helps more than any real doctor has!). Because of how my ankles and knees have progressed, I no longer participate in gym, even though I have a ! strong desire to. This is not normal and I don't know what to think now."

Your age (17) and symptoms (joint pain) do not support the possibility of a Lou Gehrig Disease diagnosis. Lou Gehrig Disease, or Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is a progressive, fatal neuro-degenerative disease caused by degeneration of central and peripheral motor neurons. Pain is not present during ALS; rather a person with ALS experiences muscle weakness, atrophy and difficulties in walking, swallowing, speaking and any other voluntary muscle activity. Pain in the ankles and knees could be due to many disorders: injuries, rheumatic disorders, degenerative disorders (osteoarthritis), static disorders of the skeleton etc.
You can consult an orthopedist for proper diagnostics and treatment.

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