A second opinion for Lou Gehrig's Disease

Gaetan Guertin, a native of Quebec, Canada, sought a subspecialist's opinion after his first neurologist suggested the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease). Gaetan began to experience leg fatigue when he was 55 and soon developed foot weakness and muscle atrophy. In an interview with Neurology Now, Gaetan said the expert's approach was more confident. "She had a lot of experience and knowledge and was more open,” he said. He added that since the neurologist worked at a research and training hospital, the diagnostic testing could proceed more promptly.

Advice: If you're unclear about a diagnosis, consider getting a second opinion.

Browse for related stories in the index at the very bottom of this page, or read a story about a man with Lou Gehrig's disease.

Thanks to Dr. Orly Avitzur for the source article in the November/December, 2007 issue of Neurology Now.