#neuromuscular conditions

[drforambhuta]

Common Pediatric Orthopedic Conditions:

1. Developmental Hip Dysplasia (DDH): DDH involves hip joint abnormalities, requiring early screening and treatment like braces or surgery for severe cases, particularly common in females and breech-positioned infants.

2. Clubfoot (Congenital Talipes Equinovarus): This condition, affecting 1 in 1000 births, demands personalized treatment plans, ranging from casting to corrective surgeries, to address inwardly twisted feet and tight Achilles tendons.

3. Scoliosis: Vigilant monitoring and intervention, including bracing or surgery for moderate to severe cases, are essential to manage lateral spine curvature during adolescence and mitigate associated symptoms.

4. Osgood-Schlatter Disease: Characterized by knee pain in active adolescents, this condition necessitates conservative measures like rest and physical therapy to alleviate symptoms and prevent recurrence.

5. Pediatric Fractures: Children's fractures require appropriate immobilization and follow-up care to ensure optimal healing and minimize long-term complications, with surgery reserved for complex cases.

6. Neuromuscular Conditions: Disorders like cerebral palsy and muscular dystrophy require multidisciplinary management to address musculoskeletal abnormalities and optimize mobility through tailored interventions.

7. Limb Length Discrepancy (LLD): LLD may be managed conservatively with orthotic devices for mild cases or surgical procedures for significant discrepancies to achieve functional harmony.

8. Pediatric Sports Injuries: Prevention strategies and prompt management of sports-related injuries are crucial for minimizing downtime and preventing long-term complications in children and adolescents.

9. Genetic Disorders: Conditions like Marfan syndrome and osteogenesis imperfecta require a multidisciplinary approach to address musculoskeletal manifestations and associated complications through various treatment modalities.

Orthopedic conditions can be detected and treated early-on in children by opting for a regular full body health checkup for children at a good hospital.

[mcyt-rep]

PHYSICAL DISABILITY REPRESENTATION*

*this is part of the "disabilities" section, to see mental/neurological disabilities, click here

GoodTimesWithScar/Scar (unnamed(?) neuromuscular condition)

Ironmouse/Mousey (Common Variable Immunodeficiency, or CVID (thanks nonnie, but I can’t post the ask because I hit post limit for the day on main and that unfortunately extends across blogs))

Skizzleman/Skizz (Multiple Sclerosis, or MS)**

Etoiles (Diabetes Type 1)

Billzo (Diabetes Type 1)

**skizz is in both the physical and neurological disability sections for MS because it's a physical disability, but is also classified as a neurological disorder. at least according to google idk im not an expert (dw guys i corroborated and all that good shit)

[chicago-geniza]

my neck and back have been hurting so bad from dystonia and so resistant to any painkillers or massage and this evening I finally lost it and started pummeling my scapular muscles with my great-grandpa's brass pestle from 19th-century congress poland and you know what. it worked

[b1odeuwed]

i’m so happy the tech exists for scar and mousey to attend events like the hermit charity event and the streamer awards despite their autoimmune/neuromuscular conditions. it’s so wonderful seeing them get to hang out with their friends :’)

[briarpatch-kids]

By weird and unusual by the way, I mean like... I'm probably one in a billion and my condition doesn't have a name beyond a "type" of illness, mitochondrial myopathy. It's somewhere between a muscular dystrophy and a neuromuscular disease. I'm unusual even for mitochondrial disease because there's nothing actually WRONG with mitochondria I do have, I'm just missing more than half of them. (You lose them naturally with age, but usually like... 25% of them from 30 to 60, not over 50% of them by 30)

Figured I'd better specify since my follower count like, doubled since I got diagnosed in 2021.

[goodstuffhappenedtoday]

In February 2000, Mike Huddleston was traveling for a training. He had flown from Maryland to San Francisco and needed to get to a rental car agency. But because of a degenerative neuromuscular condition that weakens his muscles, he wouldn't be able to climb the stairs of the shuttle bus.

Instead, the car agency sent someone to pick him up. But as he was walking outside to meet them, he fell. And due to his condition, he couldn't get up.

"I remember sitting there on my butt, in the middle of the sidewalk in front of San Francisco Airport, thinking, 'What in the world am I going to do?'"

Due to his condition, Huddleston needed something to push up on, like a bench or a chair. But there was nothing around that fit that description.

"[Then] out of nowhere, all of a sudden, I hear in my left ear, 'What can I do to help?'"

Huddleston turned his head to see a man in his late thirties standing behind him.

"I said, 'Are you kidding?' He said, 'No. What can I do to help you, man?'"

Huddleston described what the man could do to help him get off the ground. Once he got him up, the man fetched Huddleston's baggage, which had rolled a few feet away when he fell.

"He asked me if I was good and I said, 'I am because of you. So thank you very much.' He just said, 'No problem,' and turned and walked away."

This encounter struck Huddleston. Not just because of the man's kindness, but also because of the way he offered that kindness. His unsung hero didn't step in and start helping when he saw Huddleston on the ground. He took a moment to ask Huddleston how he could help.

"Different people who need assistance may need it in different ways," Huddleston explained. "So asking them how you can help them is amazingly helpful. It allows the individual who's in need of assistance to maintain a sense of self, to maybe feel a little less helpless, and maybe even a little less vulnerable."

It's been more than 20 years since Huddleston was helped up, but he continues to think about it to this day.

"His willingness to help me — and the compassion he showed in a very challenging situation — for me is something I will never forget."

[crippled-peeper]

what these people need to understand is that if they were experiencing ‘adhd paralysis’ and something life-threatening happened, they WOULD be able to get up and move. it’s very rare for any psychiatric condition to cause you to be physically unable to move when absolutely necessary (only very severe forms of catatonia and fnd). sometimes i can’t move due to psychiatric shit (idk if it’s the adhd or something else), but if my house was on fire i could ‘snap out of it’ for long enough to get out, even if it was difficult or limited my ability to act safely.

obviously there are other psychiatric symptoms that could stop you from getting out of those sort of situations, but if we’re specifically talking about inability to move, it’s just nowhere near the same as genuine neuromuscular paralysis. it’s not comparable. we (non-paralysed people) just don’t have to worry about that sort of thing, even if we need help doing a lot of movement-based tasks.

I would personally be very entertained and even would pay to see people with “ADHD paralysis” get dragged down the stairs on their bedsheets during a fire drill. I’m sure after hitting the 3rd step with their elbows or skull they’d very quickly realize how transient and not literal their “paralysis” is and like…. Get the fuck up and walk down the stairs

[bodyalive]

“swinging” (c) Bernd Walz

* * * *

Descending Modulation: Why Massage Therapy Can Alleviate Pain Posted by Mark Olson | Oct 24, 2019 | Massage, Massage Science [Thanks Barbara Sharp Lmt]

“Clients walk out of a massage session feeling better, not because circulation was altered in the tissue or because of any direct mechanical manipulation of soft tissues, but because of the symphony of nociceptive modulatory activity that emerges both from tactile input and from the meaning the client derives from environmental and social cues. (11)

Once we understand that the tissue is (often) not the issue and how pain is generated and modulated in the brain, we can realize that placebo effects are nowhere near fake but rather an essential therapeutic tool to wield against the real basis for pain. Understanding the mechanisms of descending modulation’s nonspecific effects means that our treatment strategy doesn’t require mechanical focus on the region with the pain. It also means that educating our clients about how pain works becomes part of the treatment (since it can further enhance descending inhibition), and that what and how we communicate to the client about their condition plays a much more central role than what would be expected with the common, passive, unidirectional, tissue-centric model of pain.

Classes on effective listening and communication skills may truly be more valuable than classes in one massage modality or another.” I think the Neuromuscular Reprogramming model using competent, exacting and still soft manual muscle testing fulfills the active communication aspect better than words. Gently teaching a nervous system how to achieve a motion or hold a joint using a fully balanced set muscles does reduce pain.

[berenwrites]

A New Adventure

I am about to embark on a new adventure!

I was born with a condition called talipes (club foot), which I have severely in both feet. Over my childhood I had five different surgeries to help, but I was born in the 70s, and it was a bit wild-west back then, as far as treatments went. I had a superb surgeon, but things have come on a lot since.

I believe in the early 90s a new treatment came in which is much more successful across the board, but those of us pre that were a bit more on the experimental side. 😆

This means that my ankles are virtually fused (they move a few millimetres in each direction, no more), and I walk on my toes and part of the ball of my foot, since I cannot put my heels down.

Through most of my life I've just dealt with it, but I am now of an age where I need more help. I've been using crutches for walking outside the house for years, but I am about to try something new!

I am having my first fitting for foot orthotics on Feb 8th.

An orthosis is “an externally applied device used to influence the structural and functional characteristics of the neuromuscular and skeletal system”. (Yes I got that from the website of The London Orthotic Consultancy who are the lovely people my hubby found when looking online for solutions.)

I didn't even know these were an option, but back in Dec I went to see them and they examined my feet and lower legs, and scanned and measured them.

I learned so much. I always thought that I couldn't bear anyone touching the inside of my ankle very hard because there is a scar there. But no. Turns out there is a tendon or muscle there (can't remember which) that is what allows us to go on tippy toes. Mine is always at full stretch and never gets a chance to rest, so it's very sensitive.

For my height I should also be around a UK size 7, but my feet are only 3 1/2 in length, which screws up my stride pattern.

Anyway, on the 8th Feb I will be going back and being fitted with my custom carbon fibre orthotics, that will hopefully allow me to stand and walk much better than I can now. I don't know if I get to bring them home this time, or if there will need to be adjustments made and I'll have to go back again, but I am very excited.

[dontmeantobepoliticalbut]

The June 24, 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson landmark decision by the United States Supreme Court held that the Constitution of the United States does not confer the right to abortion. This decision returned to individual states the power to regulate any aspect of abortion not protected by federal law. Since this ruling, multiple states have limited or completely banned abortion care for people who are pregnant. In at least nine states, abortion is blocked with no exceptions for rape or incest.

Multiple states have banned abortion after 18, 15, or even 6 weeks gestation. These time restrictions make it impossible for patients to use medical information from ultrasounds and/or genetic testing, available later in pregnancy, to determine if a fetus has an anomaly and/or a life-threatening or lethal condition.

These abortion restrictions and laws permitting any citizen to sue anyone “aiding or abetting” an illegal abortion for up to $10,000 has created uncertainty and fear among health care providers trying to provide medical care to pregnant patients experiencing miscarriage, tubal or ectopic pregnancy (when the embryo implants in the fallopian tube, where it cannot become a full term pregnancy; can be lethal to the mother if not treated promptly and correctly), or those who need prenatal genetic counseling. Clinicians are unclear where the lines stand between providing care and committing a felony that could equal jail time, and this means that pregnant people aren’t getting the appropriate and timely care they need, even outside of a healthy, viable pregnancy.

But did you know that the Dobbs decision has also prevented non-pregnant women from receiving the medications they need to treat lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other conditions treated with medications like methotrexate?

Chris Stallman, MLS, MS, is a certified genetic counselor, an expert in medication impact during pregnancy, and a Clinical Instructor of Pharmacy Practice-Science at the University of Arizona R. Ken Coit College of Pharmacy. “Methotrexate is a medication used to treat many conditions, including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and other autoimmune diseases. If a person who is pregnant uses methotrexate, it could increase the chance of miscarriage, birth defects, and other issues in pregnancy or after birth.”

For this reason, girls and women of child-bearing age who are taking methotrexate as treatment for their autoimmune or other diseases are not able to take methotrexate – even if they are not pregnant.

This critical problem is not hypothetical – treatment with methotrexate has already been withheld from female, non-pregnant patients with serious medical conditions in multiple states.

A 48-year-old woman in Tellico Plains, TN received an automated call from her CVS Pharmacy in July 2022 indicating that her prescription for methotrexate wouldn’t be refilled. This patient, who has inflammatory arthritis and a neuromuscular disease called myasthenia gravis, stated that methotrexate allowed her to resume simple, yet previously painful tasks like putting on her pants and rolling over in bed.

In June 2022, not 24-hours after the Dobbs ruling, a patient in Maryland who has Crohn’s disease received a call from her insurance company indicating that methotrexate, used to treat the chronic inflammation and pain associated with this condition, would no longer be available to her.

Within a week of the Dobbs ruling, a woman in Virginia who has Lupus received a letter from her doctor’s office indicating that it was pausing all prescriptions and refills of methotrexate because of the Supreme Court decision on abortion. Before taking methotrexate she experienced flares of Lupus so severe that she had trouble walking and needed to use a shower chair to wash.

Another woman from Missouri had been taking methotrexate to treat rheumatoid arthritis. When she went to the pharmacy to pick up her refill she learned from the pharmacist that they needed a specific direction from her doctor that the medication would not be used for an abortion. The pharmacy, Walgreens, confirmed with this customer that they do not require the same procedure from their male clients.

A 14-year old girl in Arizona was denied a refill of methotrexate to treat her debilitating rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Her angry physician tweeted that her patient was denied this critical medication because she was female. The withholding of life-saving or -altering medications from the women who need them has forced some of them to consider surgical sterilization.

Could denying women of childbearing age (who may or may not be sexually active, fertile, heterosexual, or pregnant) methotrexate be just the beginning of problems for women who need prescription or over-the-counter medications? Stallman says, “This certainly could lead to more medication denials – and not just for people who can get pregnant. If my husband or children need medication that could increase risks to a pregnancy, would they be denied the medication simply because they live with a person who could get pregnant? Will health care providers have to stop handling or dispensing such medications if they or their partner could get pregnant? And before saying ‘that will never happen’, remember that is what people said about the overturning of Dobbs. We don’t know how far this will go.”

Let’s take this thought experiment a step further. Is it possible that young girls will have to present a letter from their pediatricians indicating whether they’ve started having periods before they can receive the medications they need? Will adult women have to present written proof of tubal ligation, menopause, or infertility from their physicians before filling their life-saving medications? Will other medications that can affect the health of a fetus, even the highly regulated acne medication Accutane, require such additional proof? Could pharmacies use the data they have on prior purchases, like tampons and lubricant, to determine if a woman may be of child-bearing age and/or is sexually active?

The Dobbs decision is just the beginning of our government interfering with womens’ bodies, their personal choices, and their medical care. This decision is already impacting health care outside of pregnancy and could force women and their family members to disclose personal information about their fertility, sexuality, sexual and medical history with pharmacists, medical systems, the government, and the databases that all of them use. Our federal government must act swiftly to ensure that this decision doesn’t lead to further government overreach, discrimination, interference in proper medical care, and tragedy.

[whileyoureinschoolidothisallday]

(cw: like..........kinda death mention if that bothers you??????? talking about it in a disability/chronic illness context)

man I'm having feelings lol (good?????? I think??????????? definitely not bad)

I don't really talk about my specific condition very often because like.....idk. I'm sure other people with permanent since-birth disabilities can relate, but it's such a regular part of my life that I think about it as much as my glasses, y'know?

But I have spinal muscular atrophy, which is a neuromuscular disorder that gets worse over time until it usually passively kills you (most commonly: you get a respiratory infection and your lungs don't have the strength to clear it). Pretty much my whole life I've expected the loss of function and planned accordingly. Like, "okay when you can't use your good arm anymore, we'll get a voice controller so we can still write", "okay when we're on a permanent vent we already have everything set up so we'll be able to comfortably go places with it", etc etc. It's just always been an inevitability I needed to adapt and prepare for instead of avoid.

I've already been on new medication that stops/significantly slows down the progression, which has already shook my worldview that I'm probably not gonna die as young as I always thought I would (and confirmed that the meds are working!!!!!).

But now I just found out today that, in about two years max, they're gonna have a treatment to rebuild muscle as well.

So like...not only will I be on medication that's preventing me from getting worse, but I will potentially also have a medication that helps me regain what I've already lost.

If it's only marginally, that would improve my life significantly. If I had function of my arms, so much of my nightmare scenarios about my independence and staying out of an institution--especially when my mom and dad die or Ace moves away or something--would be quelled. I could take care of myself, like fully truly, and rely a little less on staff for once. I could actually do things that I wanna do but they don't have good adaptive equipment for my own needs, like cooking and cleaning and gardening--playing with my pets!!!!!! video games again!!!!!!!! Witchcraft!!!!!!

For the first time in my life, I wouldn't be living with the expectation that I would be losing something constantly.

I might actually end up being okay.

Idk it's really kinda overwhelming to think about.

[chicago-geniza]

WHY do my LEGS HURT so BAD*

*this Tumblr user has multiple chronic neuromuscular conditions that affect mobility and nociception

[victusinveritas]

What's your opinion on the skeleton found in the Arabian Peninsila of a disabled 18 year old? The fact she was physically disabled but had signs she was cared for? The fact her teeth were full of cavities because her caretaker possibly fed her too many dates? It just warms my heart as a disabled person. We humans, we care for one another! It's just wonderful in my opinion.

I agree entirely that it is wonderful. My great aunt had polio (in her leg) and lived to be 96. It's always good to know that people have thought about saving the best dates for someone who might be stuck back at camp.

For folks not familiar with this story, here's the excerpt from a larger piece on bioarchaeology relating to the treatment (both before and after death) of disabled folks in the New York Times from 2012. I actually had the print version of this article cut out for a long time and sent it, with some commentary, to a friend pursuing a doctorate in archaeology.

----

Dr. Martin, who studies violence and illness as well, gave an example from her own work of the sort of case that can benefit from Ms. Tilley’s approach. The case is described in a coming book, “The Bioarchaeology of Individuals.” A skeleton of a young woman about 18 years old from a site on the Arabian Peninsula more than 4,000 years old indicated that the woman had a neuromuscular disease, perhaps polio.

“Her condition likely made it difficult for her to walk,” Dr. Martin wrote in an e-mail. “She had exceedingly thin arm and leg bones with very little buildup of normal muscle attachments.” She probably received round-the-clock care, Dr. Martin concluded.

But one problem that she had was apparently not a result of the disease. The teeth that she had were full of cavities, and she was “missing teeth from abscesses and periodontal disease.”

Those who cared for the young woman may have been too kind, Dr. Martin said. Her people grew dates, and, “Perhaps to make her happy, they fed her a lot of sticky, gummy dates, which eventually just rotted her teeth out, unusual for someone so young.

----

[killacharacterbingo]

Neuromuscular Blockade

Neuromuscular blockade is the primary effect of neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs). They are used for treatment of several conditions, but their primary use is muscle relaxation prior to intubation for surgery, as well as relaxation of skeletal muscles to facilitate the procedure. While its use in the anaesthetic process is par for the course, its use for other ailments is deemed sometimes controversial. As with any drug, side effects and allergic reactions can prove fatal.

Since neuromuscular blocking agents cause muscle relaxation and analgesia, this prompt is related to any use of NMBAs. Whether from a proper use in surgery gone wrong (i.e.: side effects, to name one example) or for nefarious purposes by bad faith actors is up to the author.

[five-thousand-loaves-of-bread]

*playing with an online symptom checker for undiagnosed neurological/neuromuscular problem, trying best to only report symptoms & duration for the neurological problem and nothing autism*

number 1 on possible conditions: ✨autism spectrum disorder✨

fuck youuuuuuuu😂

[gayvampyr]

I think I've posted about this before but I can't remember; does anyone else get tics that are triggered by the cold? and I don't mean just shivering, I mean like cold temperatures cause your body to suddenly jerk and/or have random uncontrollable muscle spasms. mainly asking people who have tic disorders or other neurological/neuromuscular conditions, but others are welcome to reply as well