Symptom 4: Muscle Weakness in the Hands
While CMT predominantly first impacts the lower limbs, it doesn’t spare the hands. As the disease progresses, the hands and wrists often exhibit signs of muscle weakening. The genesis remains consistent – the degeneration of peripheral nerves leading to muscle atrophy.
The hands, our primary tools for interaction, undergo subtle changes. Tasks we often take for granted, like gripping a pen, typing, or buttoning a shirt, become cumbersome. For those who love to write, draw, or play musical instruments, this can be particularly heartbreaking.
Additionally, there’s a noticeable decline in hand dexterity. Fine motor skills, crucial for tasks like threading a needle or picking up small objects, diminish. In advanced stages, even holding a cup steadily becomes challenging. (4)
