Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) - ), Also called LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE, degenerative nervous-system disorder that causes muscle wasting and paralysis. The disease usually occurs after age 40, more often in men than in women; prognosis is grave--almost always negative--and victims usually die within two to five years.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - A painful condition caused by repetitive flexing or stressing of the wrist over a lengthy period of time.

Diabetic Neuropathies

Dysautonomia, Familial - Also called DYSAUTONOMIA, in medicine, abnormal functioning of the autonomic nervous system, an inherited disorder occurring almost exclusively in Jews. The syndrome is characterized by emotional instability, decrease in tear production during crying, low blood pressure upon standing up (a phenomenon called postural hypotension), excessive sweating and blotching of the skin during excitement and eating, difficulty in swallowing, and poor motor coordination.

Guillain-Barre Syndrome - Acute inflammatory neuropathy is another important demyelinating neuropathy. In this disease an autoimmune attack upon the myelin sheath of the motor nerves leads to progressive weakness and reflex loss with only slight sensory changes.

Primary Lateral Sclerosis ( --> Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) - Also called LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE, degenerative nervous-system disorder that causes muscle wasting and paralysis. The disease usually occurs after age 40, more often in men than in women.

Kennedy's Disease ( --> Muscular Atrophy, Spinal) - A variety of ALS in which the neuron degeneration is most pronounced in the spinal cord is termed progressive muscular atrophy. Its symptoms are similar to the above, except that, instead of spasticity in the feet and legs, atrophy and weakness may be present. Victims of progressive muscular atrophy generally survive longer than those suffering from classic ALS.

Motor Neuron Disease - The most common is motor neuron disease itself, termed in the United States amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and generally known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Patients are generally between 50 and 70 years of age and have upper and lower motor neuron weakness. Paralysis progresses rapidly, and death often results within three years.

Muscular Atrophy, Spinal - Muscular atrophy and weakness are among the most common indications of muscular disease. Though the degree of weakness is not necessarily proportional to the amount of wasting, it usually is so if there is specific involvement of nerve or muscle.

Myasthenia Gravis - Chronic disorder that causes varying degrees of muscular weakness, especially after the muscle has been exercised. The muscles initially affected are those concerned with eye movements, facial expressions, chewing, swallowing, and respiration.

Myopathies, Nemaline - Any skeletal muscle disorder that originates within the muscle fibres and does not arise secondarily from disorders of the nervous system.

Nerve Compression Syndromes

Neuromuscular Diseases (Nervous System Diseases)

Periodic Paralysis - Patients with periodic paralysis suffer from recurrent attacks of muscle paralysis that may last from half an hour to 24 hours. Attacks particularly affect the legs and to a lesser extent the arms and trunk muscles. During an attack the muscles may be slightly swollen and tender. Attacks frequently occur with rest after vigorous exercise.

POEMS Syndrome

Polyneuropathy - A general degeneration of peripheral nerves that spreads towards the centre of the body.

Polyradiculoneuropathy

Sciatica - Pain along the course of the sciatic nerve, which runs from the lower back down the legs. The pain often develops following an unusual movement or exertion that places a strain on the lumbar portion of the spine, where the nerve has its roots, either immediately or after an interval of several hours to a few days. The pain may become more severe with coughing, sneezing, and flexion of the neck.

Spinal Muscular Atrophies of Childhood

Stiff-Person Syndrome - Rare disorder in which muscle tissue is replaced by bone.

Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

Werdnig-Hoffmann Disease ( --> Spinal Muscular Atrophies of Childhood) - Hereditary motor neuropathies (also known as  Werdnig-Hoffman or Kugelberg-Welander diseases) are a diverse group of genetically determined disorders in which signs of ventral-horn disease occur in babies or young people.