Seven MND symptoms after England legend Lewis Moody’s tragic diagnosis

Former England captain Lewis Moody has been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, with the 47-year-old opening up on the symptoms he’s experienced

Former England rugby captain Lewis Moody has bravely shared details of his symptoms following a devastating Motor Neurone Disease diagnosis. The 47-year-old former sportsman took to social media on Monday to reveal the heartbreaking news about his health.

Moody, who won 71 caps for England and helped secure the Rugby World Cup in 2003, confessed that the news has been “incredibly hard” for his family to digest.

Motor Neurone Disease (MND) is a progressive neurological condition that affects motor nerves in both the brain and spinal cord. As the disease advances, it leads to muscle weakness, stiffness and paralysis as the patient’s ability to walk, talk, swallow and breathe can be impacted.

While Moody acknowledged his symptoms are currently minor, with only muscle wasting in the hand and shoulder, there are several other indicators of the condition.

The NHS website lists seven key signs of MND which include stiff or weak hands, weak legs and feet, twitches, spasms or muscle cramps. They also note that as the condition deteriorates, more symptoms begin to emerge, including problems with breathing, swallowing and speaking.

READ MORE: NHS issues important message after England rugby captain Lewis Moody’s diagnosisREAD MORE: Link between MND and rugby as Lewis Moody shares ’emotional’ diagnosis

Those affected may also produce excessive amounts of saliva (drool), experience changes in mood and personality, struggle to walk or move and find climbing stairs challenging. The impact on movement can also lead to frequent tripping and difficulty lifting or moving feet.

In an emotional social media post, Moody wrote: “I’m writing to share some tough news. I have recently been diagnosed with ALS, also known as Motor Neurone Disease (MND). This has been incredibly hard to process and a huge shock to me and my family.

“I feel fit and well in myself and I’m focused on staying positive, living life and dealing with the changes I will experience as they come. I am being well supported by my family, friends and medical professionals and I’m truly grateful to those who, in their time, helped progress research to support others, like me, living with this disease.

“Since retiring from the sport I love, and alongside my wife Annie, I’ve been able to dedicate much of the past 12 years to fundraising for The Lewis Moody Foundation in support of those affected by brain tumours.

“My plan is to continue with this but to also create an opportunity to support a charity closer to my current situation. I would be so grateful for your help with this and look forward to sharing more, once I am clear on what this looks like.

“For now, please know I feel your love and support; all I ask is that I am given some space to navigate this with my wife and sons, and those closest to us – but without doubt, I will continue to embrace life and grasp opportunities in the same way I always have. Take care, Lewis.”

Despite his diagnosis, Moody admitted he’s still dedicating time to his fitness which he revealed during his interview with the BBC as he sat alongside his wife Annie. “I try and keep fit, I try and train a couple of times a week still,” he continued.

“Otherwise, I get grumpy and Annie gets annoyed with me. I have to make sure I’m letting out the physical frustrations and emotions.”