| Myth -- McArdle�s patients suffer pain after exercise or exertion Fact -- McArdle�s patients suffer pain during every day activities that others tolerate easily. They experience pain & cramping while walking, climbing the stairs, opening bottles, carrying groceries, brushing their teeth & drying their hair. Myth -- McArdle�s Disease is mild & non-progressive. Fact -- Progression & severity of symptoms vary among patients. For most, McArdle's progresses the most in their 30s & 40s. McArdle�s patients can, have & do end up with legs braces, in wheelchairs & bed-ridden. Myth -- Only Skeletal muscle is affected by McArdle�s Disease. Fact -- In some cases, cardiac (heart) muscle is also affected. Myth --McArdle�s Disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern. Fact -- It is possible for rare cases of McArdle�s to be inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Autosomal RECESSIVE means that BOTH parents must pass on the defective gene. Even if neither parent actually has the disease each child will have a 25% chance of being affected. With autosomal DOMINANT inheritance, only one parent need pass on the gene yet each child has a 50% chance of being born with the disease. Medical historians have recorded people who have both a parent & child - and even 3rd generation -diagnosed with McArdle�s. These cases are not yet documented in the medical literature but appear to have no other explanation except dominant inheritance. Myth -- McArdle�s is extremely rare in children. Fact -- McArdle�s is rarely diagnosed during childhood. Most patients have been life long sufferers. Myth -- There is no treatment for McArdle�s Disease Fact -- There is specialized treatment & care for people with McArdle�s disease. Those following an individual treatment plan are having some success managing some of the symptoms of McArdle�s Syndrome. |
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| This article was written by Ruth Speary Visit her website by clicking here. |