Is ALS a hereditary risk?

Question

Hello doctor,

My grandfather died of ALS, and now I am having signs of it. He is the only one we know who had it in the family. So my first question is, what are my chances of getting it? The second question is, I twitch non-stop in my left arm, left hand, left leg, and left calf.

Sometimes I get it on my right side, but it is more frequent on the left side. So is this BFS? I had a clean EMG three months ago, but I have started twitching more and have more weakness/soreness. If I had an EMG but did not twitch during the EMG, would it have still picked up ALS, or does the EMG just work when you twitch?

The last thing is my vastus lateralis muscle on my left leg has twitched non-stop for six months, and gets a painful soreness sometimes. Could this be ALS? Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concerns.

ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) is familial in only 10 % of cases. The diagnosis is mainly clinical (with characteristic symptoms). EMG and NCS (nerve conduction studies) may help in your diagnosis. Symptoms include:

1. Fasciculations (muscle twitches) in the arm, leg, shoulder, or tongue.

2. Muscle cramps.

3. Tight and stiff muscles (spasticity).

4. Muscle weakness affecting an arm, leg, neck, or diaphragm.

5. Slurred and nasal speech.

6. Difficulty chewing or swallowing.

If you have some of these symptoms, a neurological examination is required.

I hope this helps.

Kindly revert so I can assist you further.

Thank you.