Mikey Stone, 27, was diagnosed with ALS at 26, after what he initially described as a “weird” sensation in his foot. His experience highlights some of the early warning signs of the devastating disease that are worth paying attention to.
Few diseases are as frightening to people as ALS. The condition causes the body’s muscles to gradually become paralyzed, and there is currently no cure for the disease.
The ALS Association explains that “ALS is a progressive disease in which a person’s brain loses connection with the muscles, slowly taking away their ability to walk, talk, eat and eventually breathe.”
For Mikey Stone, 27, it all started with an odd sensation in his foot.
“I was working as a server when I was living in Colorado and I noticed that my left foot felt a little weird. That’s the only way I can describe it, at first it just felt weird,” he said on TikTok, where he has over 450,000 followers, according to LADbible.
First symptoms of ALS
Soon, the feeling started progressing.
“That weird feeling kind of turned into this stiffness, and then that stiffness went up into my left calf,” he said.
“Slowly it started to spread, I also started to notice some twitching in my muscles in those areas.
“That also started to spread throughout my body over the next couple of years. Didn’t really think much about it at first, eventually got to the point where I was having trouble walking.”
His legs began to feel ‘heavy, weak and really tired,’ and he has described the sensation as being like ‘walking through the shallow end of a pool.’
Had difficulties walking
In an interview with PEOPLE, Mikey said one of the first warning signs came when he lost movement in one foot, which doctors dismissed as him being overworked. When he walked, he said he looked ‘like a pirate on a peg leg.’
He also felt ‘feverish and foggy’ at a friend’s birthday and soon experienced what felt like a stabbing pain in his stomach. He sought medical attention for his symptoms, but doctors initially thought he had coronavirus.
After about three years of searching for answers and visiting multiple doctors and specialists, he was diagnosed with ALS.
The 27-year-old said he saw his life flash before his eyes when he received the diagnosis. He said only 400 people around the world have the same ‘very, very rare genetic mutation,’ which he said was ‘in his SLC1A2 gene.’
Now, he’s hoping to be able to walk for as long as possible before eventually having to use a wheelchair.
ALS: Early warning signs
For anyone worried about developing ALS, however, it’s important to stress that while the disease is serious, it is also rare. Researchers still don’t fully understand why some people develop ALS.
Studies have shown that genetics can play a role, although that isn’t always the case. ALS also affects more men than women.
According to the ALS Association, some of the early symptoms of ALS include:
- Tripping or difficulty walking
- Dropping objects
- Fatigue in the arms or legs
- Slurred or slowed speech
- Muscle cramps or twitching
- Episodes of uncontrollable laughing or crying
For Mikey, what initially felt like nothing more than a “weird” sensation in his foot eventually became the first sign of a life-changing diagnosis. His experience highlights why persistent or unexplained changes in movement, strength or muscle function should not be ignored.
This is not medical advice. If you suspect you’re ill or are experiencing symptoms, please contact your health care provider.
READ MORE
- Miley Cyrus debuts new name following a difficult week
- Garth Brooks’ daughter under heavy fire over ‘utterly ridiculous’ Dolly Parton tribute
