Symptoms:

• Decreased feeling in any area of the body
• Difficulty swallowing
• Difficulty using the arms or hands
• Difficulty using the legs or feet
• Difficulty walking
• Numbness, loss of feeling in the arms or legs
• Pain, burning, tingling, or abnormal feeling in any area of the body
• Weakness of the face, arms or legs, or any area of the body

Symptoms may develop slowly over weeks to years and usually occur on both sides of the body.

Signs and tests:

An exam may show:

• Little or no reflexes
• Muscle atrophy
• Muscle twitch (fasciculations)
• Muscle weakness
• Paralysis
• Problems with movement and feeling (sensation)

Tests may include:

• A test of electrical activity in muscles (EMG)
• Blood tests
• Nerve conduction tests
• X-rays