Neuromuscular Disease

What is a Neuromuscular Disease?

Neuromuscular diseases affect nerves and muscles, and can cause sensory loss, weakness and even loss of muscle control. The providers at the CHI Health Neurological Institute understand that quality of life is important and that neuromuscular diseases can make every day things like walking, talking and breathing more difficult.

Neuromuscular Diseases We Treat

Motor Neuron Diseases: In motor neuron diseases, nerve cells called motor neurons progressively lose function and cause weakness.

• ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
• Kennedy’s Disease/Spinal Bulbar Muscular Atrophy (SBMA)
• Primary Lateral Sclerosis
• Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Muscular Dystrophies:

• Congenital Muscular Dystrophy (CMD)
• Duchenne/Becker Muscular Dystrophy (DMD/BMD)
• Fasciascapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy (FSHD)
• Limb-girdle Muscular Dystrophy (LGMD)
• Myotonic Dystrophy (DM)
• Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy (OPMD)

Myopathies/Myositis:

• Congenital Myopathies
• Dermatomyositis
• Distal Myopathies
• Immune-Mediated Necrotizing Myopathy
• Inclusion Body Myositis
• Metabolic Myopathies
• Polymyositis

Neuromuscular Junction Diseases:

• Congenital Myasthenic Syndromes
• Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome (LEMS)
• Myasthenia Gravis (MG)

Peripheral Nerve Disease

• Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)
• Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT)
• Mononeuropathy Multiplex
• Vasculitic Neuropathies and other immune-mediated neuropathies
• Transthyretin (TTR) Amyloid Polyneuropathy and other familial amyloid polyneuropathies

Mitochondrial Diseases:

• Friedreich’s Ataxia
• Mitochondrial Myopathies

How are Neuromuscular Diseases Diagnosed?

• Medical history, neurological exam, lab tests (serum and cerebral spinal fluid), CTs, MRIs
• NCS/EMG (Nerve Conduction Study/Electromyogram)
• Neuromuscular Ultrasound
• Skin Biopsy
• Muscle or Nerve Biopsy

Treatment

The diagnosis and care of a neuromuscular disorder can be challenging.  Treatment will depend on your type of neuromuscular disease and what symptoms you are experiencing. 

The Neurological Institute at CHI Health Immanuel offers routine clinic visits with our neuromuscular specialist to determine the best treatment options for each individual patient. 

What services do we offer:

• Forearm exercise test 
• NCS/EMG (Nerve Conduction Study/Electromyogram)
• Neuromuscular Ultrasound
• Neuromuscular Clinic
• Multi-disciplinary Neuromuscular Clinic/ALS Clinic
• Skin biopsy for small fiber neuropathy

Multi-disciplinary Neuromuscular Clinic/ALS Clinic

Treatment may also require the expertise of different fields. The CHI Neurological Institute offers this program to help those patients that qualify.

This program offers a multi-disciplinary team approach to improve quality of life by preserving strength and mobility. Treatment is tailored to each patient and includes a Neuromuscular Neurologist and Physical Therapist. It may also include an Occupational Therapist, Speech Therapist, Respiratory Therapist, Wheelchair/Mobility Specialist, social worker, nurse and clinic coordinator. 

What to expect from your visit:

During your visit, you will be evaluated by our team and they work together to identify the areas that need to be addressed to maximize quality of life and independence throughout the continuum of disease progression. We work closely with the patient and their family to provide education and training.  

For information or to schedule an appointment, call the CHI Health Neurological Institute at (402) 717-0070.