Overview

Overview

Neuromuscular disorders strike 1.5 million Americans annually. Afflicting both young and old – and often those in the prime of life – diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, myasthenia gravis, and myopathies are debilitating, often progressive, and sometimes fatal. Weakness, paralysis, respiratory distress, and intractable pain caused by a nerve disease dramatically alter quality of life for both patients and families.

Cleveland Clinic's Neuromuscular Center specializes in the diagnosis, treatment, and research of these and other neuromuscular disorders. Specialists at the Neuromuscular Center offer comprehensive workups to achieve accurate diagnosis of nerve disease and rely upon state-of-the-art treatment modalities to optimize quality of life. Both inpatients and outpatients benefit from well-orchestrated teamwork by Cleveland Clinic specialists and allied health professionals.

Neurologists, pulmonologists, rheumatologists, pathologists, anesthesiologists, surgeons, and orthopedists join forces with orthotics, physical and occupational therapists, speech pathologists, dieticians, nurse clinicians, and social workers to offer comprehensive, compassionate care for those with neuromuscular disorders.

What We Treat

What We Treat

Diseases and Conditions

Treating neuromuscular diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), peripheral nerve injury, myasthenia gravis and myopathies requires a unique combination of medical expertise and compassion. Specialists in the Neuromuscular Center successfully achieve this blend and strive to apply the latest technology to help patients optimize their quality of life and minimize their disability.

To assist in the accurate diagnosis of these disorders, our specialists rely on diagnostic modalities such as electrodiagnosis (e.g. EMG); autonomic testing; and muscle, nerve and skin biopsies to supplement the history and physical evaluation.

  • ALS - The symptoms of ALS, who is affected, how it is treated and the care path for ALS.
  • Peripheral Neuropathies - What is peripheral neuropathy? Learn how it is diagnosed and treated in the Neuromuscular Center.
  • Myasthenia Gravis - Learn the symptoms and causes and how to diagnosis and treat myasthenia gravis.
  • Myopathies - The common myopathies treated in the Neuromuscular Center; learn how they are diagnosed and treated.

Diagnostics and Testing

Minimizing disability and maximizing quality of life depends upon accurate diagnosis and prompt, appropriate treatment of nerve disease and neuromuscular disorders. Yet because symptoms of neuromuscular disorders overlap and mimic those of several diseases, diagnosis can be difficult and often delayed. In addition to a neurological history, examination, and specialized laboratory tests, neuromuscular specialists at Cleveland Clinic rely upon diagnostic investigations such as EMG, the Autonomic Laboratory, Spinal Fluid Analysis, Muscle and Nerve Biopsies and the Peripheral Nerve Injury Program.

Associated Departments

Our Doctors

Our Doctors

Appointments & Locations

Appointments & Locations

Make an Appointment

To schedule an appointment with a Neuromuscular Center specialist, please call 216.636.5860 or 866.588.2264.

EMG Laboratory

If you are a patient and would to make an appointment with Cleveland Clinic's EMG Laboratory, please call 216.636.5860 or 866.588.2264.

If you are a provider and would like to make an appointment for your patient with Cleveland Clinic's EMG Laboratory, please download our guide below.

Cleveland Clinic’s EMG Laboratory Locations:

Cutaneous Nerve Laboratory

If you are a provider and would like to make an appointment for your patient with Cleveland Clinic’s Cutaneous Nerve Laboratory, please download our resources below. You may also contact the lab at 216.444.4131 for assistance.

Virtual Visits

Whether you're a new or existing patient, you can get an initial evaluation or follow-up care from a neuromuscular center specialist using your phone, tablet or computer. This means there's no travel or parking, less waiting and significant time savings. Call 216.636.5860 to schedule a virtual visit for you or a loved one and get details on cost and set-up instructions.

MyChart

MyChart connects you to your health care team from the comfort and safety of home. With this secure, online tool you can manage your appointments and complete pre-visit tasks, communicate with your providers, and keep track of your test results and medications.

Image Copy Request

When requesting a copy of radiology images, please allow a minimum of a 48-hour advance notice for all procedures conducted at any of our imaging centers.

The link below takes you to our secure website where you can request your images electronically.

All CDs will be sent to your home address via UPS.

If you need assistance with the image request process please contact us at 216.444.6651 or 800.223.2273 ext. 46651.

Locations

Clinical Trials & Research

Clinical Trials & Research

Neuromuscular Research Programs

The Neurological Institute advances research into disease of the brain and spine and conducts clinical therapeutic trials to support patients with neurological disorders. Our multidisciplinary research collaboration combines the expertise of clinical principal investigators with state-of-the-art imaging and data analysis to establish and implement new approaches to the treatment of neurological diseases. In addition, the Neurological Institute trains clinical fellows, full-time research fellows, and residents as next generation clinical research scientists.

Clinical trials and research are the key for advancing medial knowledge and patient care. They provide hope through offering testing of new drugs, new surgical techniques or other treatments before they are available. 

ALS Program

ALS Program

ALS Association

Section of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) and Related Disorders

Mission Statement

The mission of the Center for ALS and Related Disorders is to:

  • Evaluate and diagnose patients with ALS and other motor neuron diseases (MNDs) in a timely, comprehensive and compassionate fashion.
  • Provide excellent and comprehensive clinical care on an ongoing basis to patients with ALS and other MNDs in the multidisciplinary ALS/MND Team Clinic.
  • Conduct clinical investigations, participate in therapeutic trials and conduct basic research to identify causes and effective treatments of ALS and other MNDs.
  • Provide ongoing education relevant to ALS and other MNDs to patients and their caregivers, to the multi-disciplinary team, and to health care professionals in the community.

ALS Section Creates Solutions to the Challenges of ALS and Other MNDs

Through scientific investigation, specialists in the Section of ALS and Related Disorders continue to probe for the cause of the disease.

Through clinical trials of promising medications, specialists seek potentially effective treatments.

In creating solutions to the many challenges people with ALS face, the ALS Section capitalizes on the interaction and cooperation among the physicians and allied health professionals who are members of the patient’s care-giving team.

ALS Section’s Team of Specialists Offers Comprehensive Care

Although there is no specific treatment for ALS or other MNDs because the cause (or causes) is/are unknown, specialists in the ALS Section are familiar with the disease’s many manifestations. Because the specialists are familiar with both the typical and less typical symptoms, they are adept at distinguishing this disease from similar conditions that can be treated and reversed. Consequently, they are frequently called upon to confirm a diagnosis of ALS and other MNDs. The Section of ALS and Related Disorders specialists diagnose approximately 300 new ALS/MND patients each year from the United States and abroad.

Once the disease is diagnosed, specialists and allied health professionals in the ALS Section offer patients comprehensive treatment in a compassionate setting in the multidisciplinary ALS/MND Team Clinic. Although it is impossible to erase the weakness and progressive muscle paralysis (at present) that accompany ALS and other MNDs, team members strive to maintain, or at times restore, a patient’s muscle function and his or her ability to perform the daily activities of life.

ALS/MND Team Clinic Designated by the ALS Association

Cleveland Clinic’s ALS/MND Team Clinic is one of the first of 34 ALS clinics in the United States to be designated by the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association (ALSA).

ALS/MND Team Clinic Specialists

Rebecca Kuenzler, MD
Rebecca Kuenzler, MD
Associate Staff
Kerry Levin, MD
Kerry Levin, MD
Director
Yuebing Li, MD, PhD
Yuebing Li, MD, PhD
Staff
John Morren, MD
John Morren, MD
Staff
David Polston, MD
David Polston, MD
Staff
Steven Shook, MD
Steven Shook, MD
Staff
Nimish Thakore, MD
Nimish Thakore, MD
Staff
Jennifer Ui, MD
Jennifer Ui, MD
Staff
Mark Lowe, Ph.D.
Mark Lowe, Ph.D.
Staff
Danielle Richards, DO
Danielle Richards, DO
Associate Staff
Chelsea Zale, DO
Chelsea Zale, DO
Staff
Medical Professionals

Medical Professionals

Refer a Patient

The Neuromuscular Center offers direct referral lines to ease the process of making a patient referral.

To refer a patient to the Neurological Institute via phone, please call our dedicated physician referral hotline at 216.445.8455. An intake coordinator will handle your call directly. If you are unable to reach an intake coordinator, please leave a message and they will return your call within the work day (if left before 1 p.m. ET) or the next work day (if left after 1 p.m. ET).

To refer a patient to the Neurological Institute via fax, please download and complete our physician referral form and fax to 216.636.2596.

DrConnect

Stay connected to patients you refer to Cleveland Clinic through online updates and electronic medical records.

Resources

Resources