Cataracts and muscle weakness/pain - Muscular Dystrophy Message Board

TNWalker0709 · 10-26-2008, 10:36 PM

Last year, my ophthalmologist told me that I have the type of cataracts that are normally seen in people with muscular dsystrophy. I'm 45 years old, and these cataracts were diagnosed back when I was 25, but no one ever mentioned anything about muscular dystrophy back then.

The reason I'm wondering about them now is that over the last two years, I've started having a lot of problems with my arms and legs. It started in my left leg and has since moved to my other leg and both arms. I have really bad muscle spasms and stiffness in my legs and weakness on occassion, and just recently, my arms have gotten very weak and my forearms are painful, especially when I'm trying to pick something up.

I've had a lot of tests done, including tests for multiple sclerosis due to some neurological problems that started when these symptoms did, but so far, most were negative. The only abnormal test was a somatosensory evoked potential on my left leg. I had an EMG done two years ago, but it was negative as well.

So my questions are as follows:

What is my current ophthalmologist talking about?
Are there specific cataracts unique to people with MD?
Are those cataracts seen in other types of diseases?
Can MD cause pain in the muscles?

michigani · 10-27-2008, 01:54 PM

TNwalker0709,
I'm a 47 year old male with an undiagnosed MD. I have collected data for years on 70 types of muscular dystrophy and assembled it all in a large database. I searched my data and found 3 MD's which mentioned face and eyes. This is not an attempt at a diagnosis, only information I've collected. Here's what I have:

Name: Myasthenia Gravis
AKA: MG
Inheritance: Believed to be Genetical Predisposition
Gene Mutation: Thymus or Autoimmune
Avg Age at Onset: 40-60
Affected: Eyes, Face, Neck, Limbs, Trunk
Progression: Varies
Other Notes: Voluntary Muscles, usually eyes

Name: Facioscapulohumeral
AKA: Landouzy-Dejerine or FSHD
Inheritance: Dominant
Gene Mutation: FSHD
Gene local: 4q35
Avg Age at Onset: 5-25
Blood CK: 1-5X
Affected: Face, Shoulders, Mouth
Progression: Slow

Name: Limb-Girdle Type 2H
AKA: Manitoba-Heetterity or LGMD2H
Inheritance: Recessive
Gene Mutation: TRIM32
Gene Local: 9q31-33
Avg Age at Onset: 8-27
Blood CK: <4500
Affected: Face & Shoulders
Progression: Slow
Other Notes: Looks like FSHD

Best of luck.

Snickers60 · 10-29-2008, 08:23 AM

I too have had UNEXPLAINED CATARACTS since my 20's. They just kinda SIT THERE as OPTO says. Going on Friday to have a more detailed look at them now with simi-diagnoses. I also have glaucoma. But that is very GENETIC in my family.

I will be interested in answers to your questions.

Blessings, Snickers