What is the cause and treatment of muscular dystrophy?

Question

Hello doctor,

I have been diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, and it said I show early features of this muscle disease. But my creatinine phosphokinase MB (CPK-MB), electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram, and chest x-ray all came back normal. I have been down with this serious weakness since I was five years old, but I was diagnosed this year. I used to breathe hard and fall frequently, but it has all stopped now. I still feel weak, stand with my legs crossed, have a waddling gait, and stand up with great difficulty. What might be the cause?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com. Muscle dystrophy is a genetic disease affecting muscles and sometimes other organs of the body, it progresses gradually. There are many types of muscle dystrophies. Creatine phosphokinase (CPK) value is usually high in such cases, but in late stages. If muscle mass is severely atrophied, then CPK can be normal too. And unfortunately, there is no curative treatment for this disease. You should do regular physiotherapy to keep joints moving properly and preventing contractures to develop.