Muscular dystrophy refers to more than 30 degenerative diseases that cause progressive weakness to your skeletal muscles. While the condition remains rare in the U.S., affecting around 25 individuals per 100,000, muscular dystrophy can be debilitating and life-threatening if not properly treated. Speak with a neurology expert at Bayhealth about muscular dystrophy.
Signs and Symptoms
Caused by an inherited gene mutation that interferes with proteins that promote healthy muscle function, the effects of muscular dystrophy vary from patient to patient. Symptoms of the condition could begin during childhood or adulthood.
Common symptoms include the following:
- Muscle pain and stiffness
- Muscle atrophy
- Loss of muscle strength
- Curvature of the spine (scoliosis)
- Issues walking, running or jumping
- Balance issues, including frequent falls
Less common forms of muscular dystrophy may cause localized symptoms, such as hip issues (limb-girdle muscular dystrophy), shoulder issues (facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy), and face and neck issues (myotonic muscular dystrophy). Additional symptoms related to rare forms of muscular dystrophy include issues around heart and lung function.
Speak with a neurology expert about treatment options.
Risk Factors
While muscular dystrophy can develop in anyone—regardless of age, gender, race and ethnicity—the most common form of the disease (Duchenne) occurs mostly in adolescent boys. However, the single greatest risk factor for muscular dystrophy is your family history. Individuals born with the genetic mutation that causes muscular dystrophy have a higher risk of developing the disease or passing it onto their offspring.
How We Diagnose Muscular Dystrophy
Our neurology experts use the following procedures to diagnose muscular dystrophy.
- Blood Work: A blood test may reveal signs of muscular dystrophy as well as rule out other conditions that may cause similar symptoms.
- Genetic Testing: Our neurologists may take a sample of your blood and examine it for the genetic mutation that causes muscular dystrophy.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): A combination of a magnetic field and radio waves creates three-dimensional images of specific areas of your body.
- Muscle Biopsy: A sample of tissue is extracted from the affected area to be examined in a pathology lab for signs of muscular dystrophy.
- Electromyography (EMG): Electrode patches attached to your skin are used to evaluate the function of your muscles and nerves.
Treatment Options
Because there is no cure for muscular dystrophy, treatment approaches tend to focus on promoting your physical comfort and emotional health. Depending on several factors—including your age, medical history and identifiable symptoms—our neurology experts may prescribe the following medications and therapies to address your condition.
- Physical Therapy: Depending on how muscular dystrophy has affected your body, our experts may suggest various forms of physical rehab. These treatments can restore your bodily functions by addressing issues around mobility and muscle weakness.
- Medications: An array of medications could be prescribed to target specific symptoms caused by muscular dystrophy, including corticosteroids such as prednisone. Since each patient experiences the condition differently, your drug regimen depends on your symptoms, as well as your age and medical history.
- Surgery: Depending on how muscular dystrophy affects your body, our experts may perform surgery to address (for example) joint deformities and heart function.
For cases of muscular dystrophy with physical symptoms that affect how you move, our experts may prescribe assistive walking devices such as canes or walkers. Schedule an appointment to speak with a neurologist, or learn more about neurological conditions treated at Bayhealth.