Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America
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Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am · Nov 2012
ReviewUsing palliative care in progressive neuromuscular disease to maximize quality of life.
This article discusses the role of palliative care in the treatment pathway of patients with progressive neuromuscular disease (NDM), including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). People with severe NMDs like DMD are now living much longer, well in to adulthood. ⋯ Yet palliative medicine is a new area, especially for "adults" with DMD. Strategies for identifying the most effective modalities to alleviate suffering in patients with an NMD receiving palliative services and creating best practice standards in pain and symptom management for this patient population are discussed.