It Can Affect Anyone
Every form of muscular dystrophy is inherited; it is associated …show more content…
Although some muscular dystrophies cause muscle problems in children, as stated above, other victims’ symptoms do not present themselves until adulthood (Clark1). One of the most common forms of Muscular Dystrophy in adults is Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy. It affects both men and women, and it usually appears any time from early childhood to adulthood (Hirsch1). It is extremely rare for newborns to suffer from Myotonic Muscular Dystrophy. The name refers to a symptom, myotonia spasm, meaning stiffening of the muscles after use. There are nine total major forms of muscular dystrophy: Myotonic, Duchenne, Becker, Limb-girdle, Facioscapulohumeral, Congenital, Oculopharyngeal, Distal and Emery-Dreifuss (Clark1). Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy symptoms appear early in life, often between the ages of 1 and 6. The condition advances rapidly. Many people result to needing a wheelchair by the age of 12. Symptoms include those previously listed, plus fatigue and bone problems in the back and chest. Individuals with the condition may eventually have trouble breathing and develop pneumonia. They may also sometimes grow to be mentally impaired. Becker's Muscular Dystrophy, which usually begins around age 12, is much less austere than Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The symptoms include those previously listed, in addition to heart disease, problems with the curvature of the spine, fatigue, …show more content…
Consistent pain from Muscular Dystrophy is categorized by tenderness, soreness and in some cases inflammation. This disorder affects people of all ages (Bagasis, 2011). Because the disease affects joints it is hard for those with Muscular Dystrophy to maintain healthy functioning. Muscular Dystrophy can occur at different stages of a person's life, from an infant to middle age or even later in life (Kumar, 2011). A child diagnosed with Muscular Dystrophy gradually loses the ability to do things such as walk, sit upright, breathe easily, and move the arms and hands (Sokka, 2012). This disorder also affects both