Know the Difference: CMT, MS, MD

[Guest guest]

CMT, MS & MD What's the difference?

by Dr. Greg , U of Washington

CMT, multiple sclerosis, and muscular dystrophy are all three completely

separate and distinct problems.

The neuromuscular system really starts at the brain, which is the master

computer, and sends signals to the motor (muscles) via the spinal cord (an

intermediate connecting cable) which hooks up to the peripheral nerves (the

connecting lines between brain and muscle).

Charcot Marie Tooth (CMT) is primarily a disease of the peripheral nerves (the

connecting lines between brain and muscle). CMT causes weakness and impaired

sensory perception because the signal can't get to and from the brain to muscle

and skin, among other things. The muscles will shrink (atrophy) as they aren't

getting the proper signals but the muscles themselves are not directly diseased

per se.

Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a disease directly of the muscle itself and this

causes weakness of varying degrees (there are many forms of MD). Sometimes the

heart can be involved because it is a muscle too. Also, the lungs can be

affected because the breathing muscles are weak (similar to CMT, although in CMT

it is because the phrenic nerves are affected which in turn weakens the

diaphragm, our main breathing muscle).

Multiple sclerosis MS) is a disease of the brain and spinal cord. It can affect

both movement and sensory perception and sometimes, thinking processes.

[Guest guest]

Dr. Greg made it so much easier for me to understand the

differences between CMT, MD, and MS. Dr. used laymen terms

which made his explanation crystal clear in my opinion. Thanks for

posting it.

Bonnie