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DISEASES OF MUSCULAR SYSTEM

Diseases of the Muscular System

There are over 650 muscles in the human muscular system. Each muscle has a specific role to perform. These

muscles help us talk, walk, sit, run, eat, move about, hold things, and most important the continuous pumping

of the heart muscles keeps us alive. Muscular system diseases cause many problems in the human body, that

affects the mobility and functioning of various parts of the body. The list is very long as there are number of

disorders that affect the human body

Muscular Dystrophy

This is a genetic disease is a group of inherited muscle disease that causes damage to muscle fibers. The

symptoms of muscular dystrophy disease include weakness, loss of mobility and lack of coordination. The

most common diseases classified as muscular dystrophy are Duchenne, Becker, limb girdle, congenital,

facioscapulohumeral, myotonic, oculopharyngeal, distal, and Emery-Dreifuss. The basic fact about muscular

dystrophy is that there is no specific cure for muscular dystrophy.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral Palsy is one of the diseases that affects the muscular system, where a persons posture, balance and

motor functions are affected. Brain damage during or before childbirth causes loss of muscle tone, causingproblems carrying out physical tasks in children. It is one of the most common congenital disorders.

Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva

This is a very rare congenital disorder that causes the soft tissues to become hard like bones permanently. This

causes the muscles, tendons, ligaments as well as other connective tissues to grow bones between the joints.

Thus, leading to permanent restriction of movement. There is no effective Fibrodysplasia Ossificans

Progressiva (FOP) treatment and pain is controlled using medications.

Dermatomyositis

The inflammatory myopathy that leads to chronic muscle and skin inflammation is called dermatomyositis.This is a progressive autoimmune disease of the connective tissues that causes muscle weakness. The

dermatomyositis symptoms include muscle pain, hardened calcium deposits under the skin, gastrointestinal

ulcers, intestinal perforations, lung problems, fever, fatigue and weight loss. It leads to a red or violet colored

skin rash on the face, hands, knees, chest and back. There is no cure for this progressive muscle weakness but

can be controlled using corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs.

Compartment Syndrome

Chronic compartment syndrome caused by compression of the blood vessels, nerves and muscles within a

closed area of the body. This causes tissue death due to lack of oxygen. The compartment syndrome

symptoms include severe muscle pain, feeling of tightness in muscles, paresthesia, paralysis, etc. Treatment

involves immediate surgical treatment, called fasicotomy. This helps in relieving the pressure on the muscles

and helping them become normal again.

Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by muscle weakness and fatigue. There is a

breakdown of the neuromuscular junction and thus, brain loses control over these muscles. The myasthenia

gravis symptoms and signs include drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing, muscle fatigue, breathing difficulty,

inability to control facial expressions, etc. Medications and surgical intervention are a part of myasthenia

gravis treatment.

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Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a serious neurodegenerative disease. This disease is also known as the Lou

Gehrig's disease. In this disease, the motor neurons destroy that leads to loss of control over voluntary muscle

movement. The early symptoms of ALS include difficulty to swallow, breath and speak. Paralysis is an

advanced Lou Gehrig's disease symptom.

Mitochondrial Myopathies

Mitochondrial myopathies is a condition where the mitochondria, the powerhouse of cells, is damaged. The

symptoms of this neuromuscular disease include muscle weakness, heart rhythm abnormalities, deafness,

blindness and heart failure. In some cases, it leads to seizures, dementia, drooping eyelids and vomiting. Other

symptoms include breathing difficulty, nausea and headache.

Rhabdomyolysis

Rhabdomyolysis is a condition where there is rapid skeletal muscle destruction. This causes the muscle fibers

to breakdown into myoglobin that is released into the urine. This leads to kidney failure as myoglobin is

dangerous to the kidney. Rhabdomyolysis symptoms include muscle weakness, stiffness, and pain. If detected

early, there is a possibility of rhabdomyolysis treatment. Treatment includes use of intravenous fluid, dialysis

as well as hemofiltration in severe cases.

Polymyositis

Polymyositis is an inflammatory and degenerative muscular system disease. This is a systemic connective

tissue disease that causes symmetric weakness and muscle atrophy to some extent.

Fibromyalgia

The debilitating, chronic muscle disorder is called fibromyalgia. It is characterized by pain, fatigue and many

other symptoms like tenderness and stiffness of the muscles. It is seen affecting more women than men and is

thought to be a genetic condition.

MyotoniaMyotonia is a condition where the muscles relax slowly after contraction and stimulation. The symptoms of

myotonia include trouble while releasing a grip, walking and difficulty in getting up after sitting or sleeping.

Medications, anticonvulsants and physical therapy is involved in treatment of myotonia.

Myofascial Pain Syndrome

Myofascial pain syndrome is a chronic muscle pain disorder. It is characterized by aches, pain and burning

sensation around sensitive points of the muscles called the trigger points. One may also feel joint stiffness,

area of tension like a knot and sleep problems due to severe pain. Use of corticosteroids, botulism toxin

injections, massage therapy and physical therapy help in management of myofascial pain syndrome.