CALGARY- A new clinic is being described as a one-stop shop for the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral nerve diseases–and for a Calgary woman, it has proven to be life-saving.
When the neuromuscular clinic at Calgary’s South Health Campus opened last fall, Jocelyn Caldwell was among their first patients.
“I’ve had the symptoms for quite some time in my right hand, it’s a fasciculation so it twitches and I had thought it was a pinched nerve,” Caldwell explains.
When her symptoms spread to her left hand, she was referred to a neurologist. Doctors told Caldwell her symptoms were consistent with Lou Gehrig’s disease or ALS, an untreatable neuromuscular disease that is always fatal.
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“I was horrified obviously and very afraid,” Caldwell recalls. “I called my family right away.”
“She came in for an initial assessment,” neurologist Dr. Sam Chhibber explains. “We spent an hour going over her history and then another hour and half doing her electrical studies.”
“Then he left the examination room and when he came back Dr. Chibber indicated to me that I did not have ALS,” Caldwell remembers. ” I had something called MMN, multi focal motor neuropathy, and that while it wasn’t curable it was treatable.”
Caldwell was relieved but also very lucky. MMN is often misdiagnosed putting patients at risk of permanent nerve damage and disability. The auto immune disease causes inflammation which can damage nerve and destroy muscle function over time.
“If left untreated, people will have progressive disability to the point where they’re going to have near complete loss of function in their muscles,” says Dr. Chhibber.
Caldwell began receiving an IVIG infusion almost immediately. She still experiences muscle twitching but overall, says her symptoms have improved.
“My dexterity has returned so I can now type on the computer. Obviously it’s a huge relief and I’m very happy.”
Since September the neuromuscular clinic at Calgary’s South Health campus has helped diagnose over 3000 patients from southern Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan. Appointments are available by referral only.
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