Neuromuscular Disorders

Neuromuscular disorders, are a group of medical conditions that impact the nerves responsible for controlling voluntary muscles and the muscles themselves. These disorders can manifest as problems with nerves, the point where nerves meet muscles (neuromuscular junction), or the muscles directly. Consequently, individuals with neuromuscular diseases may experience a wide range of symptoms, including muscle weakness, paralysis, impaired mobility, and, in severe cases, difficulties with breathing.

There are several primary types of neuromuscular disorders:

Neuropathies: These disorders involve damage or dysfunction of the peripheral nerves, which transmit signals between the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) and the rest of the body. Neuropathies can be acquired, resulting from factors like trauma, infections, or metabolic issues, or they can be inherited due to genetic mutations.

Myopathies: Myopathies are conditions that mainly affect the muscles themselves. They can be genetic (inherited) or acquired, stemming from causes like inflammation, toxins, or metabolic problems.

Muscular Dystrophies: This group comprises genetic disorders characterized by progressive muscle weakening and degeneration. They occur due to mutations in genes responsible for producing proteins crucial for muscle function.

Neuromuscular Junction Disorders: These disorders entail issues at the point where nerve cells communicate with the muscles they control. Conditions like myasthenia gravis fall under this category.

Motor Neuron Diseases: These disorders affect the nerve cells (motor neurons) in the brain and spinal cord that oversee voluntary muscles. Conditions such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's Disease) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) are examples of motor neuron diseases.

Neuromuscular diseases can have a significant impact on an individual's quality of life, potentially leading to weakness, paralysis, and other debilitating symptoms, which can also affect their families.

The Center for Neuromuscular Disease provides comprehensive evaluations for accurate diagnosis and advanced treatment of various nerve and muscle disorders. Their team of experts specializes in the diagnosis and medical management of the following conditions:

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease), Spinal Muscular Atrophies (SMA), and Motor Neuron Disease

Important Links

Autonomic Nervous System Disorders

Brachial and Lumbar Plexopathies

Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) and Other Hereditary Neuropathies

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)

Entrapment Neuropathies (Carpal Tunnel, Ulnar Neuropathy, Peroneal Neuropathy, and Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome)

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Hereditary and Acquired Ataxias

Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia

Inflammatory Myopathies (Polymyositis, Dermatomyositis, and Inclusion Body Myositis)

Muscular Dystrophies (Facioscapulohumeral (FSH) Dystrophy and Limb-Girdle Dystrophy (LGMD))

Myasthenia Gravis (MG) and Lambert-Eaton (LEMS)

Myopathies (Endocrine, Drug-induced, Metabolic, and Mitochondrial) and Cramping

Myotonic Dystrophy and Myotonic Syndromes

Neuropathies (Diabetic, Drug-induced, Inflammatory, Paraproteinemias

Periodic Paralysis

Post-Polio Syndrome

Their goal is to utilize state-of-the-art treatment approaches to enhance the quality of life for individuals with these neuromuscular disorders.

Comprehensive diagnosis

The Center for Neuromuscular Disease emphasizes the importance of accurate diagnosis and timely treatment for individuals with neuromuscular disorders. Their state-of-the-art Electromyography (EMG) laboratory, offers advanced diagnostic techniques including:

EMG

Nerve Conduction Studies

Repetitive Stimulation

Evoked Potentials (Somatosensory, Visual, and Acoustic Brain Stem)

Single Fiber Electromyography

Muscle and nerve biopsies

Spinal fluid analysis

Genetic counselling and testing

Neuromuscular consultations prove invaluable for addressing a range of symptoms including:

Unexplained Stiffness

Cramps, contracture, fatigue, exercise intolerance

Pain

Tingling

Numbness

Foot Drop

Limb Weakness