Former NFL star Chris Johnson reveals ALS diagnosis: 'I can't even hold a cup anymore’

Chris Johnson, the NFL record holder and former Tennessee Titans running back revealed a health concern that he has been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. (ALS).

Former NFL player is suffering from ALS

According to the BBC, the 40-year-old in an interview with Good Morning America mentioned that he first noticed frailty in his right hand.“At first, it was little things like my grip didn't feel right and I wasn't as strong as I've always been," said the 2009 offensive player of the year.Chris assumed the case to be something related to physical strain or some wear and tear from his sports career.Is it familial?"There's no history of ALS in my family. That's one of the reasons this disease can be so shocking. It can happen to someone who never expected it.”The player had consulted Dr. Merritt Cudkowicz, a neurologist at Mass General Brigham Neuroscience Institute.

She had revealed that Chris has been on a clinical trial that could help in reducing the inflammation.

What could be the possible treatments?

While talking about the treatment the player mentioned, “She was willing to think more creatively, offering experimental treatments that might help and advance research.”"We've been with her ever since, and that changed the course of our fight.”Last year he opened up for the first time about this.Chris, who also played for the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals during his NFL career, now relies on a speech-generating device to communicate because of the progression of the disease.

He has cautioned his fans

"I want people to understand just how quickly ALS can attack your body, I can't even hold a cup if I try, and that's despite being diagnosed relatively early and doing everything we can, including participating in multiple experimental treatments.”"That's why early detection, more research, and better treatments are so important. We have to give people a better chance than what's available today.”

What is ALS?

According to Mayo Clinic, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

The disease is also known as ALS which slowly leads to muscle weakness and other symptoms that get worse over time.ALS often begins with muscle twitching and weakness in an arm or leg, trouble swallowing, or slurred speech. Eventually ALS affects the muscles needed to move, speak, eat and breathe. Till now, there has been no cure found for this fatal disease, but research into new therapies is ongoing.ALS is often called Lou Gehrig's disease after the baseball player who was diagnosed with it.

The exact cause is still not known to most people. In a small percentage of people, ALS is inherited from a parent.

Complications that come along

The disease accompanies a number of physical issues such as respiratory failure where the weakening of the diaphragm and chest muscles create breathlessness; it is the sole reason for death in ALS.It follows another serious issue that is difficulty in swallowing and feeding by weakening the muscles. As a result it creates problem in shallowing capacity and the patients become vulnerable to aspiration pneumonia or choking.