Symptoms
Symptoms common to most forms of muscular dystrophy may include:
Initial symptoms:
- Progressive weakening of muscles—Usually, those muscles closest to the trunk become weak first. Then, muscles further away weaken as the disease advances.
- Enlargement of muscles as they weaken
- Clumsiness
- Frequent falling and difficulty getting up
Later symptoms:
- Severe muscle deterioration, usually leading to use of a wheelchair
- Distortion of the body
- Muscle contraction and stiffening (often severe)
- Difficulty breathing
Severe Muscle Contraction of the Hand
Symptoms specific to Duchenne and Becker dystrophy include:
- Abnormally curved spine
- Enlargement and weakening of the heart muscle
- Pneumonia and other respiratory infections
Symptoms specific to myotonic muscular dystrophy include:
- Difficulty in letting go after a handshake
- Muscle weakness that affects the central nervous system, heart, digestive tract, glands, or eyes
Symptoms usually become progressively worse. In many forms, life expectancy is shortened.
Diagnosis
The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. She will also do a physical exam.
Tests may include:
- Muscle tissue biopsy —removal of a sample of muscle tissue for testing
- Blood enzyme tests—testing a blood sample to look for elevated enzyme levels
- Genetic testing-using blood samples
- Electromyogram (EMG) —measures electrical impulses coming from muscles
- Nerve conduction study (NCS) —measures electrical impulses in the nerves
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Copyright © 2012 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
More Muscular Dystrophy Information
Improved
620 HealthChanged
293 LivesSaved
210 LivesPopular this Week
Connect with Women Like You 18 Women Care About this Condition
You're not alone. Connect with other women who are going through what you're going through, who understand and are here for you!
+ Join this Community
