Treatment for Muscle Dystrophy in LA
Muscle dystrophy refers to a group of diseases that result in weakness and cause loss of muscle mass. Mutations or abnormal genes disrupt the production of proteins required to create healthy muscle.
Muscle dystrophy is of many types and the majority of symptoms usually emerge during childhood or not until adulthood. The diseases are more prevalent in boys and have no known cure. There are, however, medications that help slow down its progression and help manage the symptoms.
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, muscle dystrophy roughly affects 1 out of every 5000 males.
Muscle dystrophy is characterized by progressive muscle weakness. Signs and symptoms emerge in different muscle groups and ages depending on the type of diseases. The most common type is known as Duchenne type muscular dystrophy (DMD) and although girls can be affected by it, the symptoms are milder as compared to young boys.
Nearly one-third of all DMD cases affecting young boys are due to spontaneous mutation. Symptoms that emerge during childhood include muscle stiffness and pain, learning disabilities, large calf muscles, frequent falls, trouble jumping and running, walking on the toes, and difficulty in rising from a sitting or lying position.
Another common type is known as Becker muscular dystrophy which has symptoms similar to Duchenne muscular dystrophy but is milder. Also, the progression is slower and the symptoms do not emerge until the late 20s. Other types of the disease include Steinert’s disease, congenital, limb-girdle, and facioscapulohumeral (FSHD).
Muscular dystrophy is caused when the genes responsible for producing proteins that guard the muscle fibers become defective.
Treatment methods that help control the symptoms and allow patients to remain mobile include medication, numerous types of assistant devices and therapies, and surgical procedures for cases that affect the spinal curvature.
Dr. Farzin Pedouim is a board certified neurologist based in Huntington Beach and Los Angeles. He has years of experience dealing with various muscle disorders and helps his patients effectively manage muscle dystrophy symptoms.