ALS Care to Stay Stronger, Longer
You face life with courage and determination. Even on the days when amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) might make it difficult to find hope, you strive to move forward with grace. We're right there with you. Every day, AdventHealth strives to support, guide, and care for you and your family with a whole-person approach that nurtures your body, mind, and spirit.
ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. There is currently no cure. But an ALS diagnosis doesn't mean your life is over. With the right care, the time you spend living with ALS can be filled with less pain and more joy. Our multidisciplinary team of experts is here to comfort and care for you on the bad days and celebrate with you on your best days. You’re never alone. We will support you at every turn.
Easing Your Symptoms. Easing Your Mind.
- Diagnosing ALS Symptoms With Comprehensive Screenings
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You want clarity and accuracy. So do we. The neurological and physical symptoms of ALS are similar to the symptoms of other conditions, which means we'll work to diagnose your condition by ruling out other disorders like HIV or polio. To give you the most-accurate diagnosis, we’ll take a proactive, multidisciplinary approach. After discussing your symptoms and medical history, we’ll use a combination of comprehensive tests that can include:
- Blood and Urine Tests
- Electromyograms (EMG)
- MRIs
- Muscle Biopsies
- Nerve Conduction Tests
- Spinal Taps
- Understanding the Early Symptoms of ALS
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Sudden strange symptoms like slurred speech or unexpected muscle weakness can make anyone concerned. But understanding what you’re up against can provide you with the clarity and knowledge you need to move forward. ALS, often called Lou Gehrig’s disease for the famous baseball player who shared this disorder, causes the nerve cells in your brain and spinal cord to degenerate. Your progression might be very different than another person’s. ALS symptoms may include:
- Difficulty Breathing, Speaking, Swallowing
- Fatigue of Arms and Legs
- Muscle Cramps or Twitches
- Muscle Weakness and Loss of Motor Functions
- Progressive Paralysis
- Slurred Speech
- Uncontrollable Laughing or Crying
- Easing Your ALS Symptoms and Managing Your Pain
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ALS may be a disorder of the body, but its symptoms can impact your mind and spirit as well. Have hope. Our network offers multidisciplinary, whole-person care, which means that we're here to provide care that not only helps ease your physical ALS symptoms, but that eases your mind and ministers to your spirit as well. Though ALS is incurable, we have ALS treatments that can help slow the progression of symptoms, prevent complications, and improve your quality of life, using a combination of solutions that includes:
- Assistive Devices for Standing, Breathing, and Eating
- Medications to Relieve Symptoms, Such As Muscle Cramps, Fatigue, Sleeplessness, and Depression
- Mental-Health Care and Support
- Nutritional Support
- Occupational Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Speech Therapy
We know that an ALS diagnosis can make you and your family feel isolated. Know that you're not alone. Our compassionate team members will work with you directly and help find a breadth of ALS resources and support groups to give you continued hope and faith.
Compassionate Neurology and Neurosurgical Care
You’ve got this, because you’ve got us. Get the expert care and support you need to live a stronger, healthier life.