Neuromuscular Disease Care

Neuromuscular disorders affect the nerves connecting the brain and spinal cord to muscles. They include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), myasthenia gravis, nerve disease (neuropathies) and muscle disease (myopathies). At Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, you have access to the services you need to optimize your quality of life.

Neurologists who completed advanced fellowship training in neuromuscular medicine guide your care. The team also includes physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors, physical and occupational therapists, speech therapists, psychologists and other professionals who work together to deliver the latest research-based care. Meet our team. 

Highlights of our program include: 

• Advanced testing: We offer extensive testing, such as electromyography, to assess the health of nerves and muscles. Testing is available through our neurodiagnostic lab. 

• Leading treatments: When new options become available, you’ll often find them in our program. You have access to newly approved medications and other innovative treatments that help you feel your best. These options enable us to treat rare and complex neuromuscular conditions.

• Seamless experience: We frequently use a team approach. Neuromuscular medicine experts often collaborate with other Virginia Mason Franciscan Health specialists to tailor your care experience. They include cardiologists, pulmonologists and nutritionists.

• Support services: We offer a variety of services that optimize your independence and peace of mind. Social workers connect you with local resources to address your social, psychological and financial needs.

Our team cares for a broad range of neuromuscular disorders, including:

• Motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), destroy motor nerves in the brain and spinal cord. These nerves can no longer communicate with muscles, causing progressive muscle weakness. Other problems include difficulty with speech, swallowing and breathing. 
• Muscular dystrophy is a group of rare, inherited conditions that primarily causes muscle weakness and loss of muscle mass over time. 
• Myasthenic disorders, such as myasthenia gravis, occur when electrical signals are disrupted as they travel through the neuromuscular junction (NMJ).  The NMJ is the area where nerves and muscles meet.
• Myopathies and myositis are muscle diseases. Myopathy refers to any disease that causes muscle fibers to break down. Myositis includes diseases that cause muscle fiber inflammation. Both lead to rapidly progressive muscle weakness.
• Peripheral neuropathies occur when the nerves outside the brain and spinal cord are damaged. Symptoms depend on which nerves are damaged, but they often include muscle weakness, tingling and pain. 

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health offers many locations that provide the tests you may need, including:

• Electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies  
• Genetic testing
• Lab tests 
• Lumbar puncture 
• Muscle biopsy
• Nerve biopsy 
• Neuroimaging  
• Skin biopsy

Our specialists care for patients across the Puget Sound area and beyond. Find a neuromuscular disease specialist near you.