What is Monomelic Amyotrophy?

Monomelic Amyotrophy involves progressive degeneration and loss of motor neurons, nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord which control the voluntary muscles.  It can be characterised by weakness and wasting in a single limb usually in the arm and hand. Although there is no pain associated with it, but affected person may experience mild sensory loss. The condition is more common in males between the ages of 15 and 25. Both onset and progression are slow.

Symptoms

• Weakness of a single limb
• wasting of a single limb
• Weak hand muscles
• Weak lower arm muscles
• fine motor control problems
• weak grip
• clawed hand
• hand tremors

Causes of Monomelic Amyotrophy

The exact cause is not known yet.

Is there any treatment?

There is no cure for this condition but treatment involves muscle strengthening exercises and training in hand coordination.

Prognosis

The progression of symptoms is slow in the starting few years before it reaches plateau and remain stable for many years. The progression of weakness to the opposite limb is very rare.

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