Photography by Kenneh
Charcot Marie Tooth Disease...
September is CMT Awareness Month. CMT, which stands for Charcot (Shar-kote) Marie Tooth, is a Peripheral Nervous System disease, it is the most common inherited peripheral neuropathy, bares the names of the three physicians who realized a bunch of different diseases were actually the same thing (the same three named Multiple Sclerosis, and Charcot named ALS), it has nothing to do with teeth, and there is no treatment nor cure.
CMT has an occurrence rate of 1 in 2,500, which is the same as Stroke in the US, yet it is considered rare. There is very little known about it; it is usually inherited, but can occur randomly; it varies widely from person to person, even in the same family; and if you are not born with it, you will never have it.
There are currently twenty-two identified types of CMT. I have type 1A, which is the most common. I inherited it from my dad, who wasn't diagnosed until after I was, and I wasn't diagnosed until I was 28.
My CMT has caused me to lose a lot of muscle mass in my legs, feet, arms, and hands. I have extremely high arches, weak ankles, I walk funny, have balance issues, and I wear leg braces. I am in constant pain that never lets up, my shoulders are wrecked, my hand dexterity and strength is greatly diminished, and I suffer from scoliosis and kyphosis; plus a whole lot more. I have my bad days, and I have my not so bad days. However, I do not let it get me down or stop me from doing what I want.
Because my type is the most common, and fortunately for me, CMT 1A is where a vast majority of the research is being conducted. While CMT is not a form/type of Muscular Dystrophy, the MDA includes CMT under its umbrella. They are an invaluable resource and many of the gains in CMT over the last 25 years would not have happened without MDA support. Most of what is known about CMT came from MDA initiatives and researchers receiving MDA funding.
I created this graphic as a tool to spread awareness. The blue ribbon is the Charcot Marie Tooth Association's awareness ribbon and was provided compliments of the CMTA for the graphic. The design and remaining images are my own. :)
If you've made it this far down and would like to learn more, please follow these links:
Charcot Marie Tooth Association | Muscular Dystrophy Association
Thanks for stopping by and taking a moment to read this. I greatly appreciate it! :D
-Kenny
Charcot Marie Tooth Disease...
September is CMT Awareness Month. CMT, which stands for Charcot (Shar-kote) Marie Tooth, is a Peripheral Nervous System disease, it is the most common inherited peripheral neuropathy, bares the names of the three physicians who realized a bunch of different diseases were actually the same thing (the same three named Multiple Sclerosis, and Charcot named ALS), it has nothing to do with teeth, and there is no treatment nor cure.
CMT has an occurrence rate of 1 in 2,500, which is the same as Stroke in the US, yet it is considered rare. There is very little known about it; it is usually inherited, but can occur randomly; it varies widely from person to person, even in the same family; and if you are not born with it, you will never have it.
There are currently twenty-two identified types of CMT. I have type 1A, which is the most common. I inherited it from my dad, who wasn't diagnosed until after I was, and I wasn't diagnosed until I was 28.
My CMT has caused me to lose a lot of muscle mass in my legs, feet, arms, and hands. I have extremely high arches, weak ankles, I walk funny, have balance issues, and I wear leg braces. I am in constant pain that never lets up, my shoulders are wrecked, my hand dexterity and strength is greatly diminished, and I suffer from scoliosis and kyphosis; plus a whole lot more. I have my bad days, and I have my not so bad days. However, I do not let it get me down or stop me from doing what I want.
Because my type is the most common, and fortunately for me, CMT 1A is where a vast majority of the research is being conducted. While CMT is not a form/type of Muscular Dystrophy, the MDA includes CMT under its umbrella. They are an invaluable resource and many of the gains in CMT over the last 25 years would not have happened without MDA support. Most of what is known about CMT came from MDA initiatives and researchers receiving MDA funding.
I created this graphic as a tool to spread awareness. The blue ribbon is the Charcot Marie Tooth Association's awareness ribbon and was provided compliments of the CMTA for the graphic. The design and remaining images are my own. :)
If you've made it this far down and would like to learn more, please follow these links:
Charcot Marie Tooth Association | Muscular Dystrophy Association
Thanks for stopping by and taking a moment to read this. I greatly appreciate it! :D
-Kenny