Medical brain notes 7

  MOTOR NEURON DISEASE This is a cruel disease in which there is gradual wasting – degeneration of the muscles. Even after numerous researches no accurate or effective treatment is yet available and the patient becomes weaker and thinner day-by-day and the doctor and relatives, helplessly watch him getting closer towards certain death. Unfortunately, the brain keeps on relatively functioning normal, till the end, so thoughts, emotions, consciousness, pain etc can still be felt.   Types of Motor Neuron Disease : 1. First of all, let us discuss about the primary (idiopathic) motor neuron disease, which occurs due to unknown reasons. In this, the main defect is in the motor neurons, and so the anterior horn cells from which the nerves of the spinal cord originate, and the brain stem or the bulbar neurons from which the cranial nerves emerge, are gradually destroyed due to some unknown reasons.   2. The muscles in the hands and legs start wasting and the movement becomes less...

  Types of Motor Neuron Disease : 1. First of all, let us discuss about the primary (idiopathic) motor neuron disease, which occurs due to unknown reasons. In this, the main defect is in the motor neurons, and so the anterior horn cells from which the nerves of the spinal cord originate, and the brain stem or the bulbar neurons from which the cranial nerves emerge, are gradually destroyed due to some unknown reasons.   2. The muscles in the hands and legs start wasting and the movement becomes less. There is difficulty in holding things, writing or moving the hands up and down and gradually climbing stairs and even wearing footwear also becomes difficult. In 3 to 7 years of the onset of the disease the patient becomes completely bedridden and the body weight reduces drastically. This type is called  Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(A.L.S.) . In this, the anterior horn cells of the spinalcord as well asthe pyramidal fibres, which control the spinal cord, are affected. In neur...

  Diagnosis : The disease can be diagnosed accurately with E.M.G. test. It is essential to get a confirmed diagnosis of this disease by a Neurologist, as the patient has very less active functional lifetime left after being afflicted by this disorder. Therefore, it is always better to systematically arrangefinancial, medical, and social requirements as soon as possible. Many a times, the symptoms similar to motor neuron disease are also caused by diseases like deficiency of Parathyroid Hormone, spinal cord injury (whiplash injury), effects of metals on the body (like lead), radiation, side effects of chemicals, myeloma as well as other types of cancers or AIDS. This category is called  SecondaryMotor Neuron Disease .   Treatment : 1.          The patient and the relatives should be timely informed about the seriousness of the disease, so that the patient can make arrangements for the rest of his life. 2.     ...