Vocational Rehabilitation Eligibility Awareness
August/September Awareness: Muscular Dystrophy
Mu s c u l a r d y s t r o p h y i s a g r o u p o f m e d i c a l l y i n h e r i t e d c o n d i t i o n s t h a t c a u s e
p r o g r e s s i v e w e a k n e s s a n d b r e a k d o w n o f t h e m u s c l e s , g r a d u a l l y l e a d i n g t o d i s a b i l i t y .
I t i s i n h e r i t e d a n d q u i t e r a r e ( f e w e r t h a n 2 0 0 , 0 0 0 c a s e s p e r y e a r i n t h e U . S . ) . I t
r e s u l t s f r o m a c h a n g e i n a n i n d i v i d u a l ’ s g e n e s t h a t c o n t r o l t h e s t a b i l i t y a n d
f u n c t i o n i n g o f m u s c l e s . T h e r e i s n o c u r e f o r m u s c u l a r d y s t r o p h y ; h o w e v e r , f o l l o w i n g
a c o n s i s t e n t t r e a t m e n t r e g i m e n m a y h e l p m a n a g e s y m p t o m s o v e r t h e c o u r s e o f
o n e ’ s l i f e t i m e .
Symptoms: Onset of symptoms varies; it is dependent on the type of dystrophy and the muscles that
may be affected.
Progressive muscle weakness
Difficulty walking, jumping or running
Difficulty in getting up from a lying or
sitting position
Muscle pain and stiffness
Inability to relax muscles when needed
Walking on toes
Difficulty with lifting the front part of the
foot
Treatments
There is no cure for muscular dystrophy and treatment aims at managing the symptoms.
Medications
*Corticosteroid
medications
(prednisone):
Improves muscle
strength and slows
down muscle
weakness
Creatine
supplements: Used
to improve muscle
strength
Heart medications
(i.e. acebutolol –
atenolol): Used to
improve working of
heart muscles
Self-Care:
Get pneumonia vaccination to prevent
respiratory infections
Eat a nutritious and well-balanced diet
Do not miss your follow-up visits
Medical procedures: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) / general surgery
Therapies : Exercise therapy / Physical therapy / Occupational therapy
Other complications of progressive muscle weakness include:
Trouble walking.
Some people with
muscular dystrophy
eventually need to
use a wheelchair.
Trouble using arms.
Daily activities can
become more difficult
if the muscles of the
arms and shoulders
are affected.
Shortening of
muscles or tendons
around joints
(contractures).
Contractures can
further limit mobility.
Breathing problems.
Progressive
weakness can affect
the muscles
associated with
breathing. People
with muscular
dystrophy might
eventually need to
use a breathing
assistance device
(ventilator), initially at
night but possibly
also during the day.
Heart problems.
Muscular dystrophy
can reduce the
efficiency of the heart
muscle.
Swallowing problems.
If the muscles
involved with
swallowing are
affected, nutritional
problems and
aspiration pneumonia
can develop. Feeding
tubes might be an
option.
Curved spine
(scoliosis). Weakened
muscles might be
unable to hold the
spine straight.
Muscular Dystrophy: Symptoms, Causes, and More (healthline.com)
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/muscular-dystrophy/symptoms-causes/syc-
20375388
Contact your local Job Developer/Vocational Rehabiltiation Counselors:
Jamie Bokuro, 541-444-8266, ext. 1213 (Siletz)
Makayla Jackson, 541-484-4234, ext. 1752 (Eugene)
Toni Leija, 503-390-9494, ext. 1861 (Salem)
Tamra Russell, 503-238-1512, ext. 1411 (Portland)
“Hi, I can help
with OHP .”
Do you need help with OHP?
You don’t have to leave your home
to apply!
Applications can now be done
online or over the phone.
The Health Care Marketplace is
open now through May 15, 2021.
541-444-9611
Shop for health plans at
https://or.checkbookhealth.org/
or call direct at 855-268-9767.
Need Rental Housing?
The Siletz Tribal Housing Department encourages you to apply for the
Low-Income Rental Program waiting list in Siletz (1-4 bedrooms) and
Lincoln City (2-3 bedrooms – Neachesna Village).
Applications can be obtained at any Tribal area office (Eugene, Salem, Portland,
Siletz) or online from the Tribal website – ctsi.nsn.us; follow links – Tribal
Services-Housing-Low Rent Apartments & Home Ownership.
Questions? Call 800-922-1399, ext. 1322, or 541-444-8322; fax: 541-444- 8313
August 2022
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Siletz News
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