Celebrity
Early Symptom That Prompted Eric Dane’s ALS Diagnosis—He Never Expected It
In a recent interview, Eric Dane talked candidly about his diagnosis and the realisation that something wasn’t quite right.
In April, actor Eric Dane, who is best known for playing Dr. Mark Sloan on Grey’s Anatomy, revealed that he had been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
The degenerative disease progressively worsens and affects brain and spinal cord nerve cells.
After announcing his condition in a brief statement, the 52-year-old Californian requested privacy.
At the time, he said: “I have been diagnosed with ALS. I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”
“I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week.”
“I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.”
On Monday, June 16, however, the actor discussed the initial indications that caused him to worry about his own health in an interview with Good Morning America.
He said, “I started experiencing some weakness in my right hand and I didn’t really think anything of it at the time.”
“I thought maybe I had been texting too much or my hand was fatigued.”
“But a few weeks later I noticed it had gotten a little worse so I went and saw a hand specialist and he sent me to another hand specialist.”
“I went and saw a neurologist and they sent me to another neurologist and said this is way above [his] pay grade.”
The actor eventually received a diagnosis of ALS after nine months of research.
Now, a year on from the first symptoms, Dane said, “I have one functioning arm, my dominant side is [my right], my left side is functioning, my right side is completely stopped working.”
“My left arm is going, I feel like a couple few more months and I wont have my left either, it is sobering.”
ALS, often known as Lou Gehrig’s disease after the baseball player who had it, affects muscle control. It begins with little symptoms like weakness and twitches in an arm or leg, or trouble speaking or swallowing, and gradually spreads to the muscles required for breathing, eating, moving, and speaking.
Those who have it frequently find this especially challenging because, although they continue to have normal brain activity and capability, they eventually become paralysed.
According to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, the condition is deadly and incurable; however, some patients may live for many years after being diagnosed.
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