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, dietitians, nurse clinicians, and social workers to offer comprehensive, compassionate care for those with neuromuscular disorders.
What We Treat
Diseases and Conditions
The Neuromuscular Center assesses and treats disorders of muscle and peripheral nerve. The focused treatment areas include:
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).
- Peripheral Neuropathies.
- Myasthenia Gravis.
- Myopathies.
- Peripheral Nerve Neurosurgery.
- Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS).
- Muscle disorders (such as muscular dystrophy, myositis and genetic disorders of muscle).
- Peripheral nerve disorders such as GBS (Guillain-Barré syndrome).
- CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy).
Our neuromuscular specialists use the your medical history and neurologic examination to direct special testing — including EMG/nerve conduction studies, neuromuscular ultrasound, skin/nerve biopsy and autonomic testing. Our expertise in these diagnostic tools means we can provide precise diagnosis, focused treatment and compassionate management and care. Our team-based clinics provide coordinated care with specialists in physical therapy, occupational therapy, nutrition, social work and psychology.
Diagnostics and Testing
- Autonomic Laboratory.
- Cutaneous Nerve Laboratory.
- EMG Examination.
- QSART.
- Skin Biopsy for Small Fiber Sensory Neuropathy.
- Spinal Fluid Analysis.
- Ultrasound of Peripheral Nerve and Muscle.
Associated Departments
- Dietary Management.
- Gastroenterology.
- Plastic Surgery.
- Physical and Occupational Therapy.
- Respiratory Medicine.
- Rheumatology.
- Social Work.
- Speech Therapy.
- Center for Spine Health.
- Surgical Pathology.
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:
- Cleveland Clinic Main Campus.
- Hillcrest Hospital.
- Richard E. Jacobs Health Center.
- Sheffield Family Health Center.
- Solon Family Health Center.
- Strongsville Family Health and Surgery Center.
- Wadsworth Express Care Clinic.
- Willoughby Hills FHC North Building.
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.
- Skin Biopsy in the Diagnosis of Small Fiber Neuropathy, A Guide for Providers.
- Skin Biopsy Patient/Specimen Referral Form.
- Skin Biopsy Specimen Handling Protocol.
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
Neuromuscular Research Programs
The Neurological Institute advances research into diseases 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 to advancing medical knowledge and patient care. They provide hope by testing new drugs, new surgical techniques or other treatments before they are available.
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.
- Learn More.
- Sign-up or Log in.
Resources
- Acid Maltase Deficiency Association.
- ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Association.
- ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Association – Northern Ohio Chapter.
- ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Survival Guide.
- ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis): World Federation of Neurology (WFN).
- Clinical Trials.
- Human Gene Mutation Database (HGMD).
- PubMed.
