What does a muscle biopsy from my leg show doctors?

[lisatsmith13]

My neurologist sent me to another doctor who is planning to do a muscle biopsy in my leg. Just what will this tell the doctors? I have Bulbar onset ALS, but even before those symptoms started, I was having problems with falling. Since then my leg muscles are definitely weaker. Is the test a way of ruling out all other diseases? Will it tell them how far the disease has progressed? Will they need to repeat it at intervals? When I read about some people who have lived for many years with the disease, I wonder if there is any way to predict the progress.

 

[Nikki J]

Hi sorry you had to find us. Do I understand you were diagnosed with bulbar ALS by one doctor and then referred to a second opinion who has ordered the muscle biopsy?

first you have every right to an explanation from the doctor about why they want the biopsy. You also have the right to your medical records and I encourage you to collect them.

what are the qualifications of each doctor ? Are they both neuromuscular specialists ? That is who you need to see for both diagnosis and second opinion. How was the diagnosis of ALS made? Usually it is emg and clinical exam coupled with other tests to rule out mimics. usually a muscle biopsy is not done if they are looking at ALS. It is more commonly done if they suspect a primary muscle disease. It is not a test that is usually repeated and certainly wouldn’t be used to gauge progression. There are no tests currently that are done to assess progression. After a time an experienced ALS specialist may venture an opinion on progression but even then it is more an educated guess than anything else ( unless they are saying slow progression after observing you for an extended time after 7 years I am not dead so I am slow progressing by definition! ). You need to ask your doctor but it spunds like they think there is a chance it is something else