How to Live With Motor Neuron Disease

Motor neuron disease is actually a group of degenerative neurological diseases where cells that are involved in things like speech, swallowing, breathing and talking are destroyed. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is one form of the disease. When a motor neuron disease occurs, signals from the brain's nerves are disrupted before they can transmit messages to the muscles. This causes the muscles to atrophy or move involuntarily. Over time, the ability to move muscles is lost altogether. Motor neuron diseases can strike at any age, and may sometimes be inherited.

Instructions

• 1

  Undergo drug therapy to help control symptoms like involuntary muscle twitches, drooling, pain or insomnia. Riluzole is the only FDA approved drug for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, the most common form of motor neuron disease.

• 2

  Engage in physical therapy to keep muscles and joints movable and to slow down the progression of atrophy. Speech therapy can help to keep a patient speaking longer by using different techniques designed for motor neuron disease patients.

• 3

  Visit a counselor to discuss fears and depression. Antidepressant drugs can treat symptoms related to the disease and help to put the patient at ease.

• 4

  Prepare an advance directive. This can be prepared by the patient for a future time when communication will no longer be possible. It can include what measures to take at the end stage of the disease--for instance, if a respirator is to be used or not--and what level of pain relievers can be used (see Resources below).