What are Nerve & Muscle Disorders?
Nerve & Muscle Disorders, also referred to as Neuromuscular Disorders, affect both nerves that control voluntary muscles and the nerves that communicate sensory information back to the brain.
Nerve cells (neurons) send and receive electrical messages to and from the body to help control voluntary muscles. When the neurons become unhealthy or die, communication between the nervous system and muscles breaks down. As a result, muscles weaken and waste away (atrophy).
Types of Nerve & Muscle Disorders
Nerve & Muscle Disorders can affect the body's Parasympathetic and Sympathetic nervous systems.
- Parasympathetic Nervous System - which controls bodily functions when a person is at rest. Some of its activities include stimulating digestion, activating metabolism, and helping the body relax.
- Sympathetic Nervous System - which connects the internal organs to the brain by spinal nerves. When stimulated, these nerves prepare the organism for stress by increasing the heart rate, increasing blood flow to the muscles, and decreasing blood flow to the skin.
Some types of Neuromuscular Disorders include:
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis,
- Charcot-Marie - Tooth Disease,
- Multiple Sclerosis,
- Muscular Dystrophy,
- Myasthenia Gravis,
- Myopathy,
- Myositis, including Polymyositis and Dermatomyositis,
- Peripheral Neuropathy, and
- Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
Symptoms of Nerve & Muscle Disorders
There are many neuromuscular disorders, and symptoms will depend on the type of neuromuscular disorder and the areas of the body that are affected.
Some symptoms common to neuromuscular disorders include:
- Muscle Loss & Weakness
- Muscle Twitching, Cramps, Aches and Pains
- Movement Issues
- Balance And Falling Problems
- Numbness, Tingling or Painful Sensations
- Droopy Eyelids
- Double Vision
- Trouble Swallowing
- Trouble Breathing
Some neuromuscular disorders have symptoms that begin in infancy, while others may appear in childhood or even adulthood; if not treated, they can progress over time.
Causes of Nerve & Muscle Disorders
Some of the causes may include:
- Genetic mutation
- Viral infection
- Autoimmune disorder
- Hormonal disorder
- Metabolic disorder
- Dietary deficiency
- Certain drugs and poisons
- Other factors.
Diagnosis of Nerve & Muscle Disorders
Depending on the condition, neuromuscular disorders are diagnosed using a range of tests, including
