Kimi Fennel (kimi at okway.okstate.edu) wrote:
> SEEKING ADVISE, DIRECTION RELATIVE TO "LOU GERIGH'S DISEASE" NEUROLOGICALLY
> KNOWN AS ALS (ATROPHIED LATERAL SCOLEROSIS)(MY SPELLING I AM SURE IS
> INCORRECT) AND/OR MOTOR NUERON DISEASE.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis = ALS
> PATIENT HAS 6 MONTHS.
Nobody can predict that for sure. The disease may progress until death
or stop at any stage without getting any worse.
> ANYTHING THAT CAN BE DONE?
To stop progression of the disease - not really. Not 30 years ago, not
now. Promising clinical trials are under way with various nerve growth
factors. For anybody now ill in ALS - nothing in view.
To alleviate symptoms - a lot can be done. For muscle atrophy -
physiotherapy. For spasticity - baclofen and analogues. For loss of leg
movement - wheelchair. For loss of hand function - actuators working
from chin movement, eye movement, anything. For difficulties in
swallowing - special diet. For difficulties in breathing - CPAP, BIPAP
devices nocturnally will alleviate general daytime symptoms.
> PATIENT FIRM BELIEVER IN HERBAL REMEDIES! IS THERE ANYTHING THAT COULD BE
> HELPFUL RELATIVE TO THE MOTOR NERVE SYSTEMS IN THE BODY BY THE USE OF HERBS?
Not as known today.
> DISEASE I UNDERSTAND IS TERMINAL - NO KNOWN CAUSE THEREFORE NO KNOWN CURE.
It is coming - but not for those presently ill.
> PLEASE RESPOND ANY GUIDANCE OTHER GATEWAYS OF INFORMATION SOURCES WILL BE
> GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Believe in your neurologists rather than in various wonder cures.
Dag Stenberg, MD PhD
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