Muscular Dystrophy Canada supports people affected by muscular dystrophy and related muscle diseases. Together, these rare conditions are referred to as neuromuscular disorders.
Neuromuscular disorders are a group of diseases that weaken the body’s muscles. The causes, symptoms, age of onset, severity and progression vary depending on the individual and the exact diagnosis.
While some types of neuromuscular disorders are first evident in infancy or early childhood, other types may not appear until later in life. The severity of symptoms, the age at which the symptoms appear, how fast the symptoms progress, and what pattern of inheritance the disorder follows, are all factors that differ among the various forms of muscular dystrophy.
In general, neuromuscular disorders are progressive, causing the muscles to gradually weaken over time. People diagnosed with a neuromuscular disorder may lose the ability to do things that are often taken for granted, like brushing their teeth, feeding themselves or climbing stairs. Some people will lose the ability to walk or breathe on their own.
Neuromuscular disorders don’t discriminate.
All they really care about is robbing you of muscle strength, making it hard to run, play, communicate and remain independent. They may progress quickly, or very slowly.
For some individuals, the disorder is fatal. Currently, there is no cure.