Welcome to EmpowHER. I am glad you reached out to our community for assistance.
For the benefit of all our readers, muscular dystrophy(MD) is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. In muscular dystrophy, abnormal genes or mutations interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle.
There are many different kinds of muscular dystrophy. Symptoms of the most common variety begin in childhood, primarily in boys. Other types don't surface until adulthood.
People with a family history of muscular dystrophy are at higher risk of developing the disease or passing it on to their children.
Anonymous, there is not one single test that is used to make the diagnosis.
Rather, your physician may order blood enzyme testing. Damaged muscles release enzymes, such as creatine kinase (CK), into your blood. In a person who hasn't had a traumatic injury, high blood levels of CK suggest a muscle disease — such as muscular dystrophy.
This may be followed with an electromyography. Changes in the pattern of electrical activity can confirm a muscle disease.
A muscle biopsy may be done. Analysis of the tissue sample can distinguish muscular dystrophies from other muscle diseases.
You may want to reach out to San Joaquin County Human Health Services for help. http://www.sjchsa.org/Medi-Cal/Frequently-Asked-Questions
Or, contact your health plan provider's office and ask if such a diagnostic work up is covered or offered at a lower rate.
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Hello Anonymous,
Welcome to EmpowHER. I am glad you reached out to our community for assistance.
For the benefit of all our readers, muscular dystrophy(MD) is a group of diseases that cause progressive weakness and loss of muscle mass. In muscular dystrophy, abnormal genes or mutations interfere with the production of proteins needed to form healthy muscle.
There are many different kinds of muscular dystrophy. Symptoms of the most common variety begin in childhood, primarily in boys. Other types don't surface until adulthood.
People with a family history of muscular dystrophy are at higher risk of developing the disease or passing it on to their children.
Anonymous, there is not one single test that is used to make the diagnosis.
Rather, your physician may order blood enzyme testing. Damaged muscles release enzymes, such as creatine kinase (CK), into your blood. In a person who hasn't had a traumatic injury, high blood levels of CK suggest a muscle disease — such as muscular dystrophy.
This may be followed with an electromyography. Changes in the pattern of electrical activity can confirm a muscle disease.
A muscle biopsy may be done. Analysis of the tissue sample can distinguish muscular dystrophies from other muscle diseases.
You may want to reach out to San Joaquin County Human Health Services for help. http://www.sjchsa.org/Medi-Cal/Frequently-Asked-Questions
Or, contact your health plan provider's office and ask if such a diagnostic work up is covered or offered at a lower rate.
Regards,
November 29, 2016 - 9:27amMaryann
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