The father-of-two has been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND) after noticing weakness in his shoulder
The NHS has issued an important message following Lewis Moody’s ‘incredibly hard’ diagnosis of motor neurone disease (MND). The former England rugby captain learned of his condition just two weeks ago and described it as a ‘huge shock’ in an emotional BBC interview.
Whilst the father-of-two, 47, consulted medical professionals after noticing weakness in his shoulder during gym sessions, the NHS highlights several other potential warning signs that people should be aware of.
In an X post today, the health service wrote: “Our thoughts are with former @EnglandRugby captain Lewis Moody and his family after he announced that he’s been diagnosed with motor neurone disease (MND). You can find out more about MND on the NHS website – including symptoms, diagnosis and more.”
Following Moody’s devastating revelation, the Mirror has compiled essential information about the condition, those it impacts and its first symptoms.
What is MND?
MND is a progressive, life-shortening condition that attacks the nerves that control movement, also known as motor neurons. This generally leads to muscle weakness that worsens over months or years.
Although adults of any age can get MND, it is more common in people over the age of 50. Sadly, there is no cure for MND right now, but there are treatments available to help manage its symptoms.
According to the NHS, its initial symptoms may include:
- Weak legs and feet – you may have difficulty climbing stairs, you may trip over a lot, and you may find it difficult to lift your feet
- Twitches, spasms or muscle cramps
- Stiff or weak hands
As MND progresses, you may also experience:
- An inability to walk
- Difficulty breathing, swallowing or speaking
- Producing a lot of saliva
- Have changes in your mood or personality
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common type of motor neuron disease (MND), though there are actually four main types. Each variation affects people in different ways.
When should you see a doctor?
It’s important to recognise that early symptoms of MND can resemble other, less serious conditions. Therefore, having muscle weakness or spasms does not necessarily mean you have MND.
However, the NHS particularly urges those experiencing three key symptoms to seek GP advice:
- Difficulty holding or gripping objects
- Weakness in your legs or feet
- Twitches or muscle cramps that keep happening, last a long time or do not go away
Its official advice adds: “If a GP thinks you might have motor neurone disease (MND), they may refer you to a brain and nerve specialist (neurologist) for an assessment and some tests.
“…MND can be difficult to diagnose in the early stages. But as the symptoms get worse it can usually be confirmed.”