The muscles in your body make it possible to move. Muscles cover your bones and make up the bulk of your heart. In fact, your heart is the most important muscle in your body because it pumps blood to your organs. Even your blood vessels contain muscles. They can dilate and constrict, causing low or high blood pressure, respectively. According to MedlinePlus, muscle disorders can result in weakness, pain and paralysis.
Muscular Dystrophy
According to the Mayo Clinic, muscular dystrophy is an inherited muscle disorder in which your muscles gradually deteriorate and become weaker. Symptoms of muscular dystrophy include lack of coordination, muscle stiffness around your joints (contractures) and the inability to move your body. Many types of muscular dystrophies exist. Duchenne's muscular dystrophy is the most severe form in which you may experience frequent falls and trouble changing positions. Other characteristic symptoms include a waddling gait, large calf muscles and mental retardation. Becker's muscular dystrophy is a milder form of Duchenne's muscular dystrophy. Myotonic dystrophy involves stiff muscles (myotonia), weakening of your extremity, head, facial and respiratory muscles.
The Mayo Clinic says that other types of muscular dystrophy include congenital myotonic dystrophy and facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy. Congenital myotonic dystrophy occurs in infants. Its typical characteristics include trouble breathing, severe muscle weakness and trouble swallowing and sucking. Facioscapulohymeral muscular dystrophy involves gradual weakness of the muscles in your face, shoulders, stomach, arms and pelvis. Physical therapy, medications such as mexiltine and surgery to release the muscle contractures can all treat muscular dystrophy.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a condition in which the nerve cells of your brain and spinal cord become damaged. This ultimately affects your voluntary muscle movements. According to MedlinePlus, symptoms of ALS include muscle cramps, muscle weakness, paralysis, trouble breathing, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), voice changes and hoarseness. Other symptoms include muscle spasms, drooling and weight loss. MedlinePlus indicates that there is no known cure for ALS. However, medications such as baclofen and diazepam can treat your muscle stiffness (spasticity). Physical therapy and using braces on your legs can also aid you in living with the disease.
Rhabdomyolysis
Rhabdomyolysis refers to muscle breakdown. According to MedlinePlus, taking an excess amount of statins (type of cholesterol-lowering medication) or illicit drugs such as cocaine and PCP can lead to this condition. Other causes include alcoholism, trauma or muscle death (necrosis). When your muscles breakdown, it releases myoglobin (type of protein). Myoglobin reaches your blood and is filtered through the kidneys. Unfortunately, myoglobin can accumulate in your kidneys and cause damage. Symptoms of rhabdomyolysis include dark or red-colored urine, muscle pain or weakness and muscle stiffness. Treatment includes intravenous (through the vein) hydration with fluids to filter out the myoglobin in your kidneys. Medications such diuretics and bicarbonates can also treat rhabdomyolysis.
