Ankles and achilles tendon : ALS / Lou Gehrig Disease ? Posted: 06-02-07 21:23pm
Is there anything you can recommend? I
know ALS is typical for people between
40-70, but what I'm feeling is ridiculous
and makes no sense. What other possible
diagnosis is there?
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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