Neuromuscular disorders affect 1.5 million Americans annually, involving both young and old – often those in the prime of life – diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), peripheral neuropathy, myasthenia gravis, and myopathies and can be debilitating and progressive.

 Overview of the Neuromuscular Center

Neuromuscular disorders affect 1.5 million Americans annually, involving both young and old – often those in the prime of life – diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), peripheral neuropathy, myasthenia gravis, and myopathies and can be debilitating and progressive.

Weakness, paralysis, respiratory distress, and pain caused by a neuromuscular disorder dramatically alters quality of life for both patients and families. The Neuromuscular Center at the Illinois Neurological Institute specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with various neuromuscular disorders. Specialists at the INI offer comprehensive workups to achieve accurate diagnosis of neuromuscular disorders and rely upon state-of-the-art treatment modalities to optimize quality of life.

What are Neuromuscular Disorders? Neuromuscular disorders affect the muscles and nerves, leading to weakness, numbness, tingling or pain in the limbs. They can also be the cause of muscles wasting.

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Conditions We Treat

Disorders for which treatment is available include:

• Acquired or hereditary peripheralneuropathies (diabetic neuropathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome)
• Entrapment Neuropathies (carpal tunnel or ulnar neuropathy)
• Back and neck pain due to spine disorders
• Spine problems leading to cervical and lumbar radiculopathies
• Brachial or lumbar plexopathies
• Muscle pain, cramps and spasms
• Disorders including muscle stiffness (myotonias, polymyalgia rheumatica)
• Fibromyalgia
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Inclusion body myositis (IBM)
• Inflammatory myopathy and other myopathies
• Myasthenia Gravis
• Other neuromuscular junction defect disorders (Myasthenic syndrome)
• Other paraneoplastic neuromuscular disorders
• Periodic paralysis
• Muscular dystrophies
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS or Gehrig’s Disease)

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Treatment Options

Treatment Options that are Right for the Patient
Our team of board certified neurologists conducts a thorough evaluation utilizing EMG, muscle/nerve biopsies to deliver an expert diagnosis. Following diagnosis, our expert team design individualized treatment plans for the patient. Our patients have access to the latest therapies, including innovative medicines and minimally invasive surgical techniques.

Treatment may include:

• Drug therapy. Some forms of nerve and muscle disease can be treated effectively with medication. Treatment may include, immunosuppressive drugs for certain muscle and nerve diseases and neuromuscular junction defect disorders. Anticonvulsants or antidepressants may be used for the treatment of painful neuropathies.
• Referrals to appropriate specialists. Patients may receive referrals to neurosurgeons, physical, occupational and speech therapists, physiatrists, pulmonary medicine specialists or pain specialists depending upon his/her needs.
• Patient and family education and counseling. In addition to individual and family sessions, treatment may include referral to appropriate support groups
• or counselors.
• Further testing. Various specialists, such as physical therapists and nutritionists, may evaluate patients as needed. EMG studies, nerve/muscle biopsies and genetic testing may also be necessary.

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Meet the Team

Our Neuromuscular program team consists of a board certified neurologist who specializes in Neuromuscular Disorders, Electrodiagnostic Medicine (EMG) and neck and back pain as well as the following additional specialists:

• Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
• Physical and speech therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Neurosurgeons

Together, this team of experts has dozens of years experience in the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders.

• Gregory Blume, MD
• Javaid Iqbal, MD
• Christopher Zallek, MD
• Yonghua Michael Zhang, MD

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