History/Causes
Types of CMT
Genetics
Diagnosis/Prognosis
Treatment
Living With CMT
New Research
Interesting Tid-Bits
Interview of Child With CMT and his Family
References
A.H.: How old was Trace when you first suspected something might be wrong?
S.W.: He was about 4 years old at the time I first started to suspect something might be wrong. I was pregnant with my second child when I began to notice that he was falling quite frequently, and for apparently no reason. I also noticed that he seemed to walk on his toes instead of on his heels.
A.H.: What did you do next?
S.W.: After I suspected that something might be wrong I took him to see some doctors. We went to nine different doctors before a diagnosis was finally made. A neurologist at Children�s Hospital finally made the diagnosis.
A.H.: Does he still go to Children�s Hospital for physical therapy, and if so, what kind of doctors does he see?
S.W.: Yes, I take him to Children�s Hospital every six months for a meeting with a neurologist, a physiatrist, and until just recently, a genetic counselor.
A.H.: How well do the doctors feel Trace is progressing with the disease?
S.W.: Even though Trace has the mildest form of C.M.T., he is progressing faster than most. He already is experiencing significant foot-drop in his left leg and has started to experience some tremors in his hands. At age 5 Trace had surgery on his left leg. They cut his Achille�s tendon, stretched it, and reattached it. Trace also wears braces on each of his legs in an attempt to correct his gait.
A.H.: How has Trace reacted to these forms of treatment?
S.W.: He had very good results from the surgery, and will likely have it again after he completes puberty. The braces recently broke and we had to return them. They broke because he was walking incorrectly on them.
A.H.: What kind of therapy does he receive for his disease?
S.W.: When we go to Children�s the P.T. stretches his calves and his hamstrings, watches him run, and observes his walking. They also check his resting ankle angle, and measure the length of his legs because his left leg is shorter than his right. The neurologist checks his reflexes at his elbows, knees, and ankles.
A.H.: Has Trace been able to interact with other people who have the diseas?
S.W.: Yes, Trace goes to a Muscular Dystrophy camp every summer where there are children who have the same disease as him.
A.H.: Thank you for taking the time to conduct this interview
S.W.: Thank you
In a conversation with Shari Walker. (oral communication, 20th April 2005).