What were your first signs of ALS?

My first symptom was a disruption in my surfing. I had otherwise-unnoticed weakness in my left leg which was interfering with my ability to point my foot upward. read more

Looking back there were signs for a couple years: tendency of knuckles to lock-up, sensitivity to sitting on hard surfaces, but I thought that was just what it was like to be over 40. Even now, I can't say for sure that it was ALS and not just normal aging. read more

Not me personally, but many times the first symptoms someone with ALS notices is a loss of strength or functionality in the calves. The neurons in the lower part of the leg are some of if not the longest in the body, and so the neruodegenerative effects are often noticed there first. read more

The parts of the body affected by early symptoms of ALS or Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis depend on which muscles in the body are damaged first. read more

Most Person(s) with ALS (PALS) notice unexplained weakness in a limb (arms/legs) in the distal portions (hands/feet) first. This is called"Limb Onset". Some first notice unexplained slurring of speech or swallowing issues. read more