Myasthenia gravis - a disorder characterized by weakness and fatigue of muscles. It develops as a result of disruption of the normal communication between nerves and muscles.

Symptoms

Muscle weakness caused by myasthenia, compounded with repeated use of the affected muscles, and after the holiday passes. However, symptoms of myasthenia usually progresses over time.

Although myasthenia gravis may affect any muscle in the body, a person can operate freely, some muscle groups affected by this violation to a greater extent than others.

Eye muscles

More than half of people with myasthenia first signs and symptoms of disorders are problems with the eyes, in particular:

• Omission of one or both eyelids (ptosis);
• Ghosting visible objects (diplopia).

The muscles of the face and throat

Approximately 15% of the first symptoms of myasthenia gravis are associated with the muscles of the face and neck:

• Changes in speech. Depending on which muscles are amazed myasthenia gravis, a person can start talking to the nose, unusually quiet, or otherwise:
• Difficulty swallowing. As a result, myasthenia person can become difficult to eat and drink. Sometimes fluid that the patient swallows goes through the nose;
• Problems with chewing. The chewing muscles are patients with myasthenia are tired long before the end of the meal.

Limited mimicry. When myasthenia gravis affects the facial muscles, facial expressions patient becomes markedly poorer.

The muscles of the neck and limbs

If the disease has affected the muscles of the neck, the person will be difficult to keep your head up; if struck by the leg muscles, even a short walk can cause very severe fatigue. As this breach significantly impairs the quality of life, the appearance of its signs as soon as possible go to the doctor.

Causes

Nerves produce chemicals - neurotransmitters, receptors which fall into the muscle cells, bringing any specified. In myasthenia immune system produces antibodies that block or destroy the receptors of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. The smaller receptors remains the smaller signals obtained muscles, which leads to muscle weakness.

It is assumed that the production of these antibodies Antibodies - "soldiers' immunity   launches the thymus - a part of the immune system is located in the upper chest under the breastbone. The thymus gland is relatively large in infants; in healthy adults, it is small in size. However, in patients with myasthenia gravis thymus gland is abnormal high resolution. In some patients the detected tumor thymus - in most cases, benign.

Factors that may contribute to the worsening of myasthenia gravis:

• Fatigue;
• Diseases;
• Stress;
• Very high temperature environment;
• Taking certain medicines, such as beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, quinine and some antibiotics Antibiotics - whether they will help you in the foreseeable future? .

Complications

• Myasthenic crisis

Myasthenic crisis - it is a life-threatening condition that occurs when the muscles that control breathing becomes too weak to properly do their job. At the same violation, seek medical help.

• Thymoma

Approximately 15% of patients with myasthenia found a tumor of the thymus gland. In most cases it is benign, but do not exclude the possibility of cancer.

In addition to these, infants and can cause complications such as decreased activity of the thyroid gland The thyroid gland - is responsible for your hormones   and pernicious anemia.

Treatment

Cholinesterase inhibitors. Drugs of this type improve communication between nerves and muscles, increase muscle strength. They can cause side effects such as bowel disorder, increased salivation and lacrimation, and frequent urination.

Corticosteroids inhibit the activity of the immune system The immune system - how it works? Limiting the production of antibodies. With prolonged use can cause serious side effects such as decrease in the density of bone mass and increased risk of infections.

Immunosuppressants effectively suppress the immune system, but can lead to infections, liver damage, infertility. Furthermore, these drugs increase the risk of cancer.

Back pain - one the most common reasons why people get sick and are forced to lead a less active lifestyle than they would like. It is a common cause of back pain becomes inflamed sciatic nerve Sciatica - warn it is too late It is generally associated with the displacement or damage of the vertebral discs. Sometimes sciatica, or sciatica, is associated with a decrease in the diameter of the spinal canal, arthritis, degenerative changes of the spine, infections or tumors. Thanks to new technologies, new ways to treat sciatica caused by problems with the intervertebral discs. It is important to note that while these techniques are only the research stage, and should be used with caution.

If we consider that the alternative is often surgery, on new ways of treatment should pay attention, if only because they are less invasive and, therefore, are associated with less risk to health.

The intervertebral discs act as shock absorbers between the vertebrae, as well as provide flexibility to the spine. Unfortunately, age-related changes, birth trauma, and some features may result in damage to or displacement of the disc, which can be determined by means of computer or magnetic resonance imaging. Interestingly, in some cases, such anomalies as the displacement of the intervertebral disc are found in patients who do not complain of back pain - is unclear why someone does not cause any discomfort. In most cases, however, shift of or damage to disks causes pain, and if the disc presses on the sciatic nerve The sciatic nerve: how to avoid the excruciating pain? Pain felt in the lower back and given up, at which the nerve passes.

The choice of methods of treatment of sciatica has so far been very limited. With the help of physical therapy may be to some extent alleviate the pain and reduce the pressure on the spine. Epidural steroid injections eliminate inflammation, and in most cases even relieve severe pain, but their effect is usually temporary. In severe cases, the only effective treatment can be surgery. We'll talk about other treatments that may be widely disseminated in the near future.

Intradiscal electrothermal therapy

During this procedure, the affected disc using X-rays are administered a hollow needle, which is mounted inside the catheter. When it is introduced in the disc annulus, the catheter is heated, whereby the thin nerve fiber ingrown into the cracks formed in the disk being destroyed. In addition, under the influence of heat partially melted fibrous ring that causes the body to produce proteins to strengthen it. According to currently available information, the effectiveness of intradiscal electrothermal therapy is from 23% to 60%. Obviously, more research is needed to better understand the effect of this treatment.

Radiofrequency disk nucleoplasty

Nucleoplasty - even more new invention than intradiscal electrothermal therapy. As with electrothermal therapy during nucleoplasty intervertebral disc inserted in the hollow needle, not only inside the catheter, a radiofrequency probe. The probe generates an electromagnetic field, which is enough energy to break molecular bonds in the nucleus pulposus of the disc. As a result, the nucleus becomes less than 10-20%, thereby reducing the pressure on the sciatic nerve. Since the electromagnetic field is generated at a fairly low temperature, damage to the surrounding tissue is minimal.

Epidural injections in the treatment of sciatica: Pros and Cons

If patients with sciatica suffer from such severe pain, which can not cope with conventional analgesic, it can be assigned epidural injections of steroids. Using X-ray needle is inserted into the place where there was a compression of the sciatic nerve, and then to introduce the medicament. Within hours after the injection the patient must remain under medical supervision.

Epidural injections are prescribed for very severe pain when other ways relieve the symptoms of sciatica Symptoms of sciatica when the pain intensifies   can not, as well as in cases where the pain interfere with normal rehabilitation after surgery. In most cases, these injections do not cause injury; however, steroid medications have side effects that must be considered:

• The temporary weakening of the immune system;
• Stomach ulcer;
• Severe forms of arthritis;
• Cataracts;
• Increased blood sugar Blood sugar - a very important indicator ;
• Increased appetite;
• Hot flashes.

Epidural steroid injections are contraindicated for pregnant women, patients with suspected tumors and some infectious diseases, as well as those who have an increased risk of local or systemic bacterial infections and bleeding. Although the probability of serious adverse effects is relatively small, this method of treatment is elected only when reasonably necessary. The alternative may be, and often becomes surgery.

A revolutionary way to treat inflammation of the sciatic nerve

Chronic severe sciatica for many patients is a significant reduction in quality of life. Topical administration of etanercept, an anti-inflammatory drugs can be a breakthrough in the treatment of this disorder. The effectiveness of this method has already been scientifically proven, including in a recent randomized, placebo-controlled study.

The idea of ​​using etanercept to treat inflammation of the sciatic nerve appeared about ten years ago, but it took hold more than one test to confirm the safety and efficacy of this method.

Etanercept neutralizes excess TNF (tumor necrosis factor) - the cells that stimulate the inflammatory response and regulate communication between nerve cells. Currently, the drug is systematically used for the treatment of psoriasis, and some forms of arthritis. Local use of etanercept for the treatment of sciatica is not so well known, but we have proved that the drug effectively eliminates neuropathic pain associated with sciatica. Due to a longer half-life than others similar in action, drugs, etanercept effect lasts longer, and often prove more powerful.