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Why choose Geisinger for neuromuscular disease care?

Tingling. Numbness. Pain. Spasms. Difficulty with movement. These symptoms need a team who understands their nuances and can provide a plan. Here, your neurologists are board certified in neuromuscular medicine with specialty training in rare and common neuromuscular conditions.

Geisinger Medical Center, Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center are recognized by the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the ALS Association for care and clinical trials. They also hold the highest AANEM accreditation for electromyography (EMG) testing.

With specialty clinics in Danville, Bloomsburg and Wilkes-Barre, you can see all your specialists during one visit. And your pharmacists make sure you can get the latest drug therapies, including FDA-approved amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) medications.

Treatments and services we offer

Related specialties

FAQs

What are neuromuscular diseases?

Neuromuscular diseases affect the nerves controlling your muscles and can cause weakness, pain and movement problems. Some conditions include:

  • Peripheral neuropathy, which is weakness, numbness and pain in the hands or feet
  • Muscular dystrophy, which is a type of muscle disease that breaks down and weakens muscles over time
  • ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, which is a rapidly progressive neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles
  • Myasthenia gravis, which causes weakness and fatigue in voluntary muscles
  • Myopathy, which causes a loss of muscle strength because of dysfunction of the muscle fibers

When should you see a neuromuscular specialist?

If you have muscle weakness, numbness, pain, tingling or problems with movement, ask your doctor for a referral. Our specialists will run tests to identify the cause and build a treatment plan tailored to you.

What’s a biopsy for neuromuscular disease?

A biopsy is a small tissue sample that a specialist examines under a microscope to help diagnose a condition.

  • Muscle and nerve biopsies: Our neurosurgeons perform these, and our on-site neuropathologists read the results.
  • Skin biopsies: We perform these in the office as a same-day minor procedure.

Why is getting a biopsy more convenient at Geisinger?

Specialists in neurology and neurosurgery programs can perform biopsies — so you don’t need to make a separate appointment. Results are reviewed on-site by a neuropathologist, saving you time and extra steps.

Neuromuscular care at Geisinger

Here’s what you can expect from your neuromuscular care plan:

  • Specially trained doctors: You can see all your specialists in one visit — including board-certified neurologists, nutritionists, physical therapists, pulmonologists and speech therapists. You and your family can also learn about mobility devices, including wheelchairs.
  • Recognized clinical sites for MDA and ALS: Geisinger Medical Center, Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center are recognized by the Muscular Dystrophy Association and ALS Association for their research trials and comprehensive care.
  • Latest drug therapies: You’ll have a pharmacist who makes sure your medications are safe and effective. They’ll offer the latest ALS medicines and work with genetic testing specialists to provide the newest treatments for specific mutations like Duchenne muscular dystrophy.