SCA

[berejena]

I was diagnosed with Spinal Cerebellar Ataxia about 30 yrs ago. I have all tests known to man except one where a piece of muscle is taken from your leg, I've agreed to this but don't know when. The professor I see can't understand why my cerebellum is shrinking faster than normal, my reflexes are very strong. Is there any other person out there, if so please get in touch!!!

Keep smiling

Berejena 😀🌻

[Cunningham1960]

If you're having trouble with your balance, your muscle biopsy is better in your arm

[john61]

They took mine from my arm under a local anesthetic I didn't feel a thing.

[TELEEN]

Hi i have had sca 2 for 18 yrs and i know nothing about this test,i thought that the cerebellum shrinking was what this thing is all  about!and that as it's progressive you cannot know how fast or slow this will happen!!

[Sunny8088 in reply to TELEEN]

Agree with Teleen

[HarryB Administrator in reply to TELEEN]

Hi TELEEN

Muscle biopsies are usually done as an investigation in people with idiopathic ataxia, i.e. the underlying cause of the ataxia is unknown, to try and find a cause.  A problem with muscle function which would show on a muscle biopsy is known to cause progressive ataxia.  As you already know what the cause of your ataxia is a muscle biopsy is not necessary for you.

Harriet

[TELEEN in reply to HarryB]

Oh thank you yes i understand now,that's the difference i know the origins of my Ataxia.Thank you and good luck for the future...Eileen.

[Iain_100 in reply to HarryB]

Thanks for this info Harriet.

Yes, it makes sense. I'm very surprised that this was not suggested to me. I've had a million-and-one other tests, and no cause has been identified. So I would have expected this to have been a further test. Perhaps the docs don't know about this test?

And I can kind of understand why a biopsy of leg-muscle tissue has been suggested to berejena. I'm guessing, that like me, berejena only has real problems with the legs.

Perhaps I really should get tested at an Ataxia UK clinic?

Iain

[berejena in reply to Iain_100]

Yes you should Iain, don't know where you live.I don't just have leg problems also lots ofotherthings. Ii have Dystonia as well, in my neck & shoulder. (Involuntary muscle spasmkeep well

Berejena

[HarryB Administrator in reply to Iain_100]

Hi Iain

I am surprised a muscle biopsy hasn't been suggested to you but it might be that the doctors think that with the symptoms you have, a muscle biopsy would not be indicated.  The best person to ask about this would be your neurologist.

If an individual has a specific muscle disorder all their muscles will show signs of that disorder, irrespective of where the symptoms are most prominent.

Harriet

[Iain_100 in reply to HarryB]

Thanks Harriet!

I'll ask the next time (although it will have to be via my GP - as I'm only seeing a physiotherapist now).

I have only recently noticed a tremor in my left arm, but it's nothing really. My arms are, generally, unaffected (even as my legs continue to deteriorate quite noticeably). So much so, that the neurophysiologist that I saw jabbed her needle/electrode into my shoulder - as the signal from my legs was so bad that she thought her machine might be on the blink. The signal from my shoulder was fine though, so her machine was working fine.

[celtic1888 in reply to TELEEN]

Me too

[celtic1888]

Never heard of this process. I'll be emailing my neurologist.  Hope it goes well for u