Neurologic and Musculoskeletal Disorders
Neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders are conditions that affect the function of the nerves and muscles in the body. They can cause symptoms such as weakness, pain, numbness, tingling, stiffness, spasms, tremors, and difficulty with movement, balance, coordination, and speech. Some of these disorders are inherited, while others are acquired due to infections, injuries, autoimmune reactions, or degeneration of the nervous system.
Some examples of neurologic and musculoskeletal disorders are:
– **Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)**: This is a progressive disease that leads to the loss of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord that control voluntary muscles. People with ALS experience muscle weakness, wasting, and paralysis that eventually affect their ability to breathe and swallow. There is no cure for ALS, but treatments can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life .
– **Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT)**: This is a group of inherited disorders that affect the peripheral nerves that carry signals from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles and sensory organs. People with CMT experience weakness and atrophy of the muscles in the feet, lower legs, hands, and forearms. They may also have sensory loss, foot deformities, and difficulty walking. CMT progresses slowly and does not affect life expectancy. There is no cure for CMT, but treatments can help manage symptoms and prevent complications .
– **Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP)**: This is a condition that causes inflammation and damage to the myelin sheath, which is the protective layer that surrounds the peripheral nerves. People with CIDP experience weakness and numbness in the arms and legs that may come and go or worsen over time. They may also have fatigue, pain, and difficulty walking. The cause of CIDP is unknown, but it may be related to an abnormal immune response. CIDP can be treated with medications that suppress or modulate the immune system .
– **Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)**: This is a condition that causes acute inflammation and damage to the myelin sheath of the peripheral nerves. People with GBS experience rapid onset of weakness and paralysis that usually starts in the legs and spreads to the upper body and face. They may also have sensory loss, pain, difficulty breathing, and autonomic dysfunction. The cause of GBS is unknown, but it may be triggered by an infection or vaccination. GBS can be treated with immunotherapy and supportive care .
– **Multiple sclerosis (MS)**: This is a chronic disease that causes inflammation and damage to the myelin sheath of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). People with MS experience episodes of neurological symptoms that vary depending on the location and extent of the damage. These symptoms may include vision problems, numbness, tingling, weakness, spasticity, fatigue, cognitive impairment, mood changes, bladder problems, and pain. The cause of MS is unknown, but it may be related to genetic and environmental factors. MS can be treated with medications that modify the immune system or reduce inflammation .
– **Myasthenia gravis (MG)**: This is an autoimmune disease that causes antibodies to attack the receptors on the muscle cells that receive signals from the nerves. People with MG experience muscle weakness that worsens with activity and improves with rest. The weakness usually affects the muscles of the eyes, face, mouth, throat, neck, arms, and legs. They may also have drooping eyelids, double vision, difficulty chewing, swallowing,
