Neuromuscular and nerve disorders

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), or Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurodegenerative condition that interferes with the ability of your nerve cells to communicate with your muscles.

Early symptoms of MS include:

• Difficulty chewing or swallowing
• Muscle cramps
• Muscle twitches in the arm, leg, shoulder or tongue
• Muscle weakness affecting an arm, a leg, or the neck
• Slurred and nasal speech
• Tight and stiff muscles (spasticity)

Muscular dystrophy (MD) refers to a group of more than 30 genetic diseases characterized by progressive weakness and degeneration of the skeletal muscles that control movement.

Different types of MD affect different organs/muscles. MD can affect the heart, lungs, gastrointestinal system, endocrine glands, spine, eyes, brain or other organs. Some people with MD may develop a swallowing disorder.

Myasthenia gravis is a chronic, autoimmune disorder that affects signals between the nerves and the muscles. As a result, muscles feel weak and easily tired. People with the condition may experience flare-ups, followed by periods of remission, during which their symptoms improve.

With myasthenia gravis, muscle weakness tends to increase during periods of activity and improve after periods of rest.

The peripheral nervous system sends signals between the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and all other parts of the body.

In peripheral neuropathy, nerve signals are disrupted in three ways:

• Signals are sent that shouldn’t be sent are sent
• Signals that should be sent aren’t sent
• Errors change the way messages are sent

To diagnose neuromuscular and nerve disorders, neurologists will look at many results, including:

• Blood and urine tests
• Electron microscopy to identify changes in subcellular components of muscle fibers
• Imaging studies
• Immunofluorescence testing to detect specific proteins within muscle fibers.
• Muscle biopsies
• Neurophysiology studies to identify physical and/or chemical changes in the nervous system
• Pulmonary function tests to see if breathing is affected

Once diagnosed, treatment can help you manage symptoms and improve your quality of life. Exercise, physical therapy and occupational therapy are all possible treatments that can help you manage symptoms. Your doctor will put you on the best treatment plan for your specific situation.