Lewis Moody has disclosed the initial sign of Motor Neurone Disease (MND) he spotted whilst exercising before receiving his official diagnosis of the devastating condition.
The former England rugby captain made his diagnosis public today (Monday, October 6), turning to social media to deliver a devastating announcement to his supporters. In his statement, he confessed the news had been a “huge shock” to both himself and his family, but pledged to “continue to embrace life” whilst battling the illness.
MND is a neurological disorder that targets motor nerves in the brain and spinal cord, resulting in muscle weakness, stiffness and paralysis as it advances. As a result, it can affect a person’s capacity to walk, talk, swallow and breathe.
The disease is generally life-limiting, taking the lives of one-third of patients within a year, and more than half within two years of diagnosis, according to the MND Association. Whilst treatment can decelerate the progression, there is presently no cure available.
Initial signs of the disorder include weakness and muscle spasms, alongside problems with walking and gripping items and it was shoulder weakness that Moody – who earned 71 caps for England and claimed the Rugby World Cup in 2003 – initially noticed whilst working out at the gym. In a heartfelt interview on BBC Breakfast, Moody detailed how he initially underwent physiotherapy to tackle the issue, only for the problem to continue as a series of scans unveiled the devastating reality, reports the Mirror.