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• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PMA (progressive muscular atrophy) >> Jim - Interview 18 >> At first his GP reassured him it was nothing to worry about, but referred him to a neurologist. Within four months of referral he had a diagnosis of P

Jim was diagnosed 2 years ago (2005) with Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMA) form of MND. His legs and arms are affected but not speech.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PMA (progressive muscular atrophy) >> Paul - Interview 09 >> He was pretty sure what the diagnosis would be, so it didn't come as a 'nasty surprise' and he took it in his stride.

Paul's diagnosis of progressive muscular atrophy was confirmed 2 years ago (2004) after several years of leg pain and weakness. Now unable to walk and he has limited arm movement. Uses a ventilator, but his speech is not affected. He worked until 6 months ago.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Carers >> Peter & Olivia - Interview 46 >> They set up an email group to tell people and keep them informed. It gave them great emotional support and showed them the true meaning of friendship.

Peter's daughter Olivia (aged 22) died within a year of developing pain and weakness in her leg, in late 2006. Diagnosis of MND remained uncertain, as aspects of her condition were unusual.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 65+ >> Sylvia - Interview 25 >> She wants honest information, but it's good to be given some hope and encouragement, not just negative information - no one knows what will happen.

Sylvia was diagnosed a year ago in 2005, after noticing difficulties walking. She can move around at home with a trolley, and uses a wheelchair or scooter outdoors. She uses non-invasive ventilation regularly.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PMA (progressive muscular atrophy) >> Jim - Interview 18 >> The information sources he's used include the internet, books, the MND Association and BUILD. Other people with MND can sometimes tell you more than p

Jim was diagnosed 2 years ago (2005) with Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMA) form of MND. His legs and arms are affected but not speech.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PMA (progressive muscular atrophy) >> Paul - Interview 09 >> Access to professional journals on the internet helped him know what questions to discuss with specialists, but many internet sites are unreliable.

Paul's diagnosis of progressive muscular atrophy was confirmed 2 years ago (2004) after several years of leg pain and weakness. Now unable to walk and he has limited arm movement. Uses a ventilator, but his speech is not affected. He worked until 6 months ago.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis) >> Hal - Interview 26 >> He told his family not to look at the MND Association website because he feels the information about life expectancy is too negative.

Hal was diagnosed with MND nearly three years ago in 2004. Diagnosis revised to primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) a year ago. His speech is affected, but mobility is still good.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Bulbar onset >> Mike - Interview 23 >> Using sites like BUILD-UK and PatientsLikeMe has been a great way to communicate and share information. [Mike is unable to speak].

Mike was diagnosed with bulbar onset MND 2 years ago in 2005. He is now unable to speak, so was interviewed through his wife Gill. He uses a whiteboard and Lightwriter to communicate. He has a PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy).

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 20-49 >> Kim - Interview 10 >> She values contact through the BUILD-UK site, but has taken a break from it, as she felt MND was taking over her life. She's not sure she'd want face-

Kim was diagnosed with MND (ALS) about a year ago (2005). Now unable to walk she needs help with most daily tasks, but is still working as an occupational therapist and able to drive. Her speech is not affected.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PMA (progressive muscular atrophy) >> Judith - Interview 12 >> She has looked at the BUILD forum. She doesn't want to make friendships with people just because they have the same illness, but she might change her

Judith was diagnosed with Progressive Muscular Atrophy form of MND two years ago, after consulting two neurologists. Now she uses a wheelchair and mobility scooter.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Slawomir - Interview 33 >> His business installing industrial laundry machinery is physically too hard for him now. He is frustrated to be stuck at home.

Slawomir was diagnosed 3 months ago, 18 months after first noticing weakness in his leg. He wonders if he may in fact have Lyme Disease. He can still walk and drive.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Bulbar onset >> Mike - Interview 23 >> He has a Lightwriter but prefers white boards. He uses texting and the internet. His sons ring up and tell him what they've been doing. [Mike is unabl

Mike was diagnosed with bulbar onset MND 2 years ago in 2005. He is now unable to speak, so was interviewed through his wife Gill. He uses a whiteboard and Lightwriter to communicate. He has a PEG (Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy).

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Bulbar onset >> Sarah - Interview 21 >> After some frustrating failed experiments with voice software, she successfully uses a system called EZ Keys with a chin switch. [Voice software inter

Sarah was diagnosed 7 years ago when 7 months pregnant with her second baby in 2000. Now she cannot use her arms or walk unaided, and her speech is affected, so she uses voice software to communicate.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PLS (primary lateral sclerosis) >> 'Speedy' - Interview 19 >> She started an online relationship with a man with PLS. But since she's been using a wheelchair he's stopped writing. She thinks he's in denial about

'Speedy' was diagnosed with primary lateral sclerosis (PLS) nearly 2 years ago (in 2005) after 2 years of increasing leg weakness. She now uses a wheelchair and a hand-operated car.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> ALS- amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/MND aged 50-64 >> Stuart - Interview 05 >> He has taken up writing, art, local history and running a community website. He's writing his life story for his grandchildren.

Stuart first noticed symptoms (legs shaking) almost 20 years ago. MND diagnosed 9 years ago (1997), after years of tests and investigations. Now uses a wheelchair.

• Nerves & brain >> Motor Neurone Disease >> Rarer forms - PMA (progressive muscular atrophy) >> Judith - Interview 12 >> She took a creative writing course because her arms weren't strong enough to do art or pottery, but now she really loves writing.

Judith was diagnosed with Progressive Muscular Atrophy form of MND two years ago, after consulting two neurologists. Now she uses a wheelchair and mobility scooter.