What it is
Some types can also affect the heart and the muscles used for breathing.
There is no cure, but physiotherapy, steroids, newer targeted medicines for some types, and heart and breathing care can help.
Common signs
- Muscle weakness that gets worse over time
- Difficulty walking, running or climbing stairs
- Frequent falls
- Difficulty getting up from the floor
- Muscle stiffness
How it is usually diagnosed
- Blood test for creatine kinase
- Genetic testing
- Muscle biopsy, sometimes
- Heart and breathing tests
Records worth keeping
Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:
- Genetic test results
- Heart and breathing test results over time
- Neuromuscular clinic letters
- Physiotherapy plans
Questions to ask your doctor
- Which type of muscular dystrophy is it?
- How will the heart and breathing be monitored?
- Are there treatments or trials for this type?
When to get help right away
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- Breathing difficulty, a chest infection with breathlessness, or chest pain: call 112
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.