Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is one of a series of books sponsored by the American Academy of Neurology designed to assist people with neurological diseases. This book focuses on living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder.
Authors experienced in ALS treatment
The authors, two physicians and a nurse, are part of the multidisciplinary treatment team at the Forbes Norris MDA/ALS Research Center in San Francisco. Other team members, such as nutritionists, therapists, and psychologists, also contributed to the book. All of these clinicians have extensive experience helping individuals affected by ALS and their families. Thus, the information they offer in the book is practical, realistic, and specific.The authors emphasize that the ideal setting for ALS care is a multidisciplinary clinic that specializes in treating ALS. This type of clinic provides "one-stop shopping" by pulling together all the specialists needed and providing a coordinated plan of care.
Comprehensive guide to all aspects of the disease
The book begins with an comprehensive explanation in lay terms of what amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is and how it is diagnosed. The second section of the book focuses on managing the symptoms of ALS. The authors are quite clear in stating that although there is no cure for ALS, it is treatable. They discuss quality of life and psychosocial issues, then go into detail about dealing with issues such as speech and swallowing, nutrition, communication, computer access, getting around, breathing and sleeping, mental changes, and end-of-life care.Resources provided
The third section of the book has a chapter each on the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association and the Muscular Dystrophy Association's ALS Division. A chapter on "Negotiating the Insurance Maze" provides helpful information.All in all, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis provides up-to-date, comprehensive information on living with ALS, which makes it very useful for individuals affected by ALS and their families.
