I have spinocerebellar ataxia and want to improve my muscles

[Itoero]

I have spinocerebellar ataxia type 7. My main problem is less controle, coordination and strength in my muscles. Is there anything (like hormones) that might help me?

[Bonaparte]

I don't think so, since the problem lies in your nervous system, not your muscle fibers.

[Itoero]

What do steroids and growth hormones do for your muscles?
Is there any difference?
Having a bit more musclestrength would help me a lot I think.

[Bonaparte]

What do steroids and growth hormones do for your muscles?
Is there any difference?
Having a bit more musclestrength would help me a lot I think.

They help enlarge the muscle fibers. That's a big difference.

[thisAngelBites]

Normally one could make an argument for more neurological input from muscle as a way to reinforce brain function or enable re-wiring for some kinds of neurological dysfunction, but I think all cerebellar ataxias are genetic, and what happens is the cerebellum, which controls motor function, atrophies.

If I were you, I would focus on a good amount of exercise, but be wary of how you lift weights, and be even more wary of heavy weights. Since you have a brain/signaling problem you will be more likely to have accidents and hurt yourself, which will mean time where you cannot exercise and reinforce motor programmes.

I would think that things that trigger proprioceptive receptors firing (which are how you know where your body is in space - are primarily triggered in joints and often during stretching) would also be an important thing to reinforce - so possibly things like yoga, or pilates?

I would think there have to be neurologists with inventive exercise protocols that can trigger all the areas that need triggering, so everything that needs to be reinforced is truly reinforced.

Perhaps there are also people out there using neurofeedback or biofeedback for this disorder? I would think that might help things, and maybe you can see if find someone doing that who gets good results.

I'm sorry, I understand your thought process in thinking about this, but I think steroids are not going accomplish what you want, and will potentially put you at risk of injury in your trying to get the benefit from the steroids (lifting heavy weights). I would think fully concentrating on a more thorough neuro input programme and not worrying about the sides and difficulties of steroids would be a choice more likely to help.