MMN
Welcome to our Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN) Information Hub
Here we breakdown what is happening to you or a loved in simple but proper terms. Our information is sourced from our Medical Advisory Board, medical texts, and recognised support providers.
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If you have any questions after reading this that you feel haven’t been answered. Please get in touch with us, we will strive to point you in the right direction.
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If you have any questions after reading this that you feel haven’t been answered. Please get in touch with us, we will strive to point you in the right direction.
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What is Multifocal Motor Neuropathy (MMN)
MMN (Multifocal Motor Neuropathy) is a rare disorder in which focal areas of multiple motor nerves are attacked by one’s own immune system. Typically, MMN is slowly progressive, resulting in asymmetrical weakness of a patient’s limbs. Patients frequently develop weakness in their hand(s), resulting in dropping of objects or sometimes inability to turn a key in a lock. The weakness associated with MMN can be recognized as fitting a specific nerve territory. There is essentially no numbness, tingling, or pain. Patients with MMN can have other symptoms, including twitching, or small random dimpling of the muscle under the skin which neurologists call fasciculations.
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The clinical course of MMN is chronically progressive without remission. The prevalence of this very rare disease is estimated to be 0.6 cases in every 100,000 people, which makes it even rarer that GBS, a spontaneously self-limiting disorder in which 1-2/100,000 cases occur each year in North America and Europe.
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MMN has many features similar to CIDP in that its onset is progressive over time, causing increased disability that reflects the greater number of nerve sites involved. However, unlike CIDP, MMN is asymmetric and affects the right and left side of the body differently. Unlike other forms of chronic nerve inflammation, it is thought to never remit. However appropriate treatment that is FDA approved does limit progression and improves function.
What Causes MMN
MMN is associated with increased levels of specific antibodies to GM1, a ganglioside or sugar-containing lipid found in peripheral nerve. Antibodies normally protect individuals from viruses and bacteria, but may under certain circumstances bind to and facilitate an immune attack on the peripheral nerve. These antibodies have been detected with newer assays in almost all of MMN patients. Even if these antibodies do not cause the nerve damage, they may be an important marker for disease and facilitate diagnosis.
How is MMN diagnosed?
The diagnosis of MMN is a clinical one that depends on demonstrating that the patient:
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Has a purely motor disorder affecting individual nerves
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Shows no UMN (upper motor neuron) signs such as brisk reflexes at the knees or ankles or spasticity in the limbs
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Has no difficulty speaking or swallowing
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Demonstrates no sensory deficits
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Shows evidence of focal areas of nerve in which electrical impulses are slowed or blocked (conduction block) which can be detected on electrophysiology tests
These criteria are designed to differentiate MMN from ALS, (Lou Gehrig’s disease), Lewis-Sumner Syndrome (a multifocal inflammatory nerve disease with motor and sensory symptoms), and vasculitis or inflammation of small blood vessels in the peripheral nerve.
A neurologist is usually needed to determine the diagnosis, which is based on the history and physical examination. Tests include:
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An electrodiagnostic study, which includes nerve conduction studies (NCS) and needle electromyography (EMG).
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Laboratory testing for IgM GM1 antibodies is also frequently done.
How is MMN treated?
It is now established that intravenous immunoglobin (IVIg), a preparation of antibodies obtained from healthy volunteers, can be readily given through an arm vein and provides benefit to patients with MMN.
It is the only treatment for this disorder that is approved by the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and regulatory agencies in Europe and Canada.
IVIg can lead to improved motor function in most patients with MMN, with the response varying from minimal to very large. Early treatment shortly after symptom onset is always more effective. The treatment usually does not completely reverse all of the symptoms, and those patients who do respond will require repeated treatments to maintain their improvement. Patients usually require retreatment every 2-5 weeks and over time may need increased doses of IVIg.
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IVIg is not a cure for MMN but currently no other therapy has proven to be widely effective. In a limited number of patients a cancer chemotherapy drug is temporarily effective. However, its use is limited by the toxic side-effects and risks that accrue with chronic use. Other immunosuppressive treatments such as corticosteroids and plasma exchange are ineffective and can actually make the disease worse.
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Many investigators around the world are working towards a better understanding of MMN.
MMN
Advice for Carers
Hospital discharge can bring mixed emotions. Of course you’re glad to have your family member home, but it is quite normal to feel a bit daunted by what lies ahead, especially if you are now the main carer. On this page we have some practical suggestion that can help you in this new role, and some help contact details and/or resources you may wish to access.
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Quick Fact: Informal/Unpaid Carer
The Department of Health and Social Care has described an informal/unpaid carer as: “… someone who provides unpaid help to a friend or family member needing support, perhaps due to illness, older age, disability, a mental health condition or an addiction”
Ask for a needs assessment for the person you’re caring for
You need this before the council can recommend services such as equipment, home adaptations, help from a paid carer, etc.
Get a carer's assessment
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This can be requested at the same time as a needs assessment, via social services at your local council.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help
Ask family and friends (shopping, respite, etc), and contact carers’ organisations or Citizens Advice for benefits advice and other support.
Look after yourself
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Eat a healthy diet, maintain a regular sleep pattern and make time for exercise, preferably in the fresh air or at your local gym or pool, away from the care setting.
Remember to rest
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Put some activities on hold. Take some time for yourself by arranging respite care from a friend or relative, or through social services.
Recognise limitations
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Both those of the person you’re caring for and your own. Let them try to do things for themselves if they are able, but bear in mind their safety and yours.
Look after your mental health​
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Talk to each other about your experiences and frustrations during illness and recovery. Talk to your GP if either of you is struggling.
Be mindful of risks​
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Be aware of temperature (cooker, iron, hot bath water, hot drinks), risk of falls due to poor balance, and dropping or spilling things due to weakness.
Diet and exercise​
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If appetite and taste are affected, ask about vitamin supplements to help maintain dietary needs. Ask the community physio about exercises to do between visits.
Don't lose sight of your relationship​
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Whatever your relationship is to the person you’re caring for, make time for it. Do things together that you both enjoy and that feel ‘normal’.
Get in touch with Inflammatory Neuropathies UK​
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We provide information and support, organise peer support via phone or video link, virtual group chats, and run an active and supportive Facebook group.
Hospital discharge can bring mixed emotions. Of course you’re glad to have your family member home, but it is quite normal to feel a bit daunted by what lies ahead, especially if you are now the main carer. On this page we have some practical suggestion that can help you in this new role, and some help contact details and/or resources you may wish to access.
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Quick Fact: Informal/Unpaid Carer
The Department of Health and Social Care has described an informal/unpaid carer as: “… someone who provides unpaid help to a friend or family member needing support, perhaps due to illness, older age, disability, a mental health condition or an addiction”
Other sources of support
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Looking after someone you love doesn’t have to mean struggling alone. There are organisations out there who offer advice and practical support to carers, so reach out and see what help is available to you.
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NHS advice
Carers UK
Carers Scotland
Carers Wales
Carers Northern Ireland
Family Carers Ireland
Carers Trust
Help for young carers
Citizens Advice UK
Citizens Information RoI
Find your local social services
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England
Scotland
Wales
Northern Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Mental Health, Well-Being, and Work following MMN diagnosis
This section will provide useful links and sources to help support your mental health during MMN. If you’re a carer or have experienced a loved one going through an illness it can also be a traumatic time, and these links may also help you.
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We also discuss getting back to work and how to communicate with your employer.
Click one of the headers below to access the information directly:
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Back To Work: After a Long Absence
Back To Work: Making Reasonable Adjustments
Back To Work: Pay During A Phased Return To Work
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Mental Health & Wellbeing
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With all the changes in your health it is not uncommon to feel anxious or angry, and this can even be helpful to a degree in providing the mental and physical energy that is needed to anticipate and tackle problems. An acute stress reaction is recognised as being a normal part of the process of adjusting to a life change, and it can often help to talk things through with a partner or close friend. However, please seek advice and help from your GP if you are finding it difficult to cope or to sleep, or if you are feeling overwhelmed emotionally.
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The impact of being severely affected by a sudden, frightening and potentially life-changing condition such as MMN can leave people with symptoms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). It can develop immediately, or many months or even years after a traumatic event. If you are concerned about low mood, irritability, panic attacks, anxiety, flashbacks, physical sensations such as trembling or sweating, poor concentration or sleeping problems, please talk to your GP about getting some counselling.
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We may be able to provide access to counselling - please click here for more
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Some other sources of support are shown below.
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
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Sexual Relationships
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MMN and other chronic neuropathies can bring on problems in any relationship, and sexual relationships are not excluded. Dealing with a long-term illness or disability can put a great strain on a relationship, particularly when one partner is partially or totally dependent on the other. As well as coming to terms with a physical disability, the emotional upheaval can interfere with a couple’s sex life and this can be difficult to talk about. This can mean that the once close, intimate relationship can become distant and stressful for both partners. Help is available so speak to your GP or a relationship counsellor.
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Relate https://www.relate.org.uk/
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Getting Back To Work
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When someone is ready to return to work after an absence, the employer should have a procedure they follow, or an Occupational Health service. You can check your workplace’s absence policy for this. Your workplace might have a policy for meeting with employees after absences.
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Back To Work: After a Long Absence
If there’s been a long absence or the employee has an ongoing health condition, it’s a good idea for the employer and employee to meet and:
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Make sure the employee is ready to return to work.
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Talk about any work updates that happened while they were off.
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Look at any recommendations from the employee’s doctor.
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See if they need any support.
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If the employee has a disability, see if changes are needed in the workplace to remove or reduce any disadvantages (‘reasonable adjustments’).
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Consider a referral to a medical service such as occupational health.
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Discuss an employee assistance programme (EAP) if it’s available.
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Agree on a plan that suits you both, for example a phased return to work.
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Back To Work: Making Reasonable Adjustments
If an employee has a disability, by law their employer must consider making ‘reasonable adjustments’ if needed to help them return to work.
Reasonable adjustments could include making changes to the employee’s:
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Workstation or working equipment.
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Working hours.
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Duties or tasks.
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For the best course of action, the employer should take advice from:
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- The employee themself.
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The employee’s doctor.
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Their Occupational Health adviser.
This can help get people back to work quicker prevent any further problems.
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Back To Work: Phased Return
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A ‘phased return to work’ is when someone who’s been absent might need to come back to work on:
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Reduced hours.
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Lighter duties.
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Different duties.
For example, after a:
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Long-term illness.
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Serious injury.
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Bereavement.
The employer or their HR manager and the employee should agree on a plan for how long this will be for.
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For example, they could agree to review how things are going after a month and then decide to increase the working hours or duties, or they might decide they need to stay reduced for longer.
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The employer or HR manager should continue to regularly review the employee’s health and wellbeing in the workplace and make new adjustments if necessary.
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Back To Work: Pay During A Phased Return To Work
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If the employee returns to their normal duties but on reduced hours, they should get their normal rate of pay for those hours they work.
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For the time they’re not able to work, they should get sick pay if they’re entitled to it.
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If the employee is doing lighter duties, it’s up to the employer and employee to agree on a rate of pay. It’s a good idea to make sure this agreement is put in writing.
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This information is provided by ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service).
Further information regarding absence and returning to work is available on the ACAS website:
MMN - what happens next?
MMN - So what happens next?
What happens next? That’s a big question for a lot of people after diagnosis and/or leaving hospital. This section covers everything from rehab to hygiene to pain management.
To skip to the information directly, just hit a header below:
Support and Rehabilitation
Financial Help
General Prognosis
Pregnancy
Physiotherapy
Hygiene, Cleanliness and Teeth ​
Diet
Your Immune System
Exercise and Rest
Pain
Support and Rehabilitation
If you do need time in hospital, you may require some form of rehabilitation before returning home, to help you regain strength, dexterity and mobility. This could be within a rehabilitation unit in the hospital, or you may be transferred to a specialist rehab unit elsewhere.
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You may also be offered psychological support, as a potentially life-changing illness such as MMN or another chronic inflammatory neuropathy can also severely impact your mental wellbeing.
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Specialists who might support you through rehab:
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Physiotherapist: will help you with movement issues, re-building muscle, and learning to walk
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Occupational Therapist (OT): will identify potential problem areas and work out some solutions
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Speech and Language Therapist: will help with communication and swallowing problems
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Counsellor or Psychologist: someone you can discuss your problems with and help you find ways to cope emotionally
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Financial Help
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Financial concerns may be causing anxiety, especially if you are the main wage-earner and unable to work. If you are employed, stay in regular contact with employers and make sure you understand the absence and returning to work processes.
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Inflammatory Neuropathies UK may be able to help with the cost of frequent journeys to visit a family member in hospital. Get in touch and ask about our Personal Grants Scheme.
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Once you leave hospital, or if you are already receiving treatment as an outpatient, you could be entitled to benefits to help you support yourself and your family. The benefits system is complex and subject to change, but Citizens Advice has up-to-date information on their website, and they can even help you make an application for benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Universal Credit:
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Further information on benefits can be found at:
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If adaptations to your home are needed, such as installing a ramp or downstairs bathroom for example, it is worth contacting your local council to see if you are entitled to help via a Disabled Facilities Grant:
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If you are on a low income, or someone in your household is severely and permanently disabled, you may be entitled to a reduction in Council Tax. Further information is available an Carers UK.
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General Prognosis ​
IVIg treatment of MMN is usually very effective with about 80%-90% of patients responding positively (though this can vary from partial to substantial improvement). Unlike CIDP, MMN almost never goes into remission and instead ongoing IVIg is usually needed to maintain function. Your health care provider will discuss appointments with you.
Delay in diagnosis or the wrong treatment can lead to permanent weakness. However, with proper treatment, and as progression is slow, many patients can maintain a stable functional status for years.​​
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Pregnancy ​
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Neither IVIg nor plasma exchange is contraindicated during pregnancy. However, as plasma exchange requires additional considerations and monitoring, IVIg might be preferred.
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Physiotherapy
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If you have difficulty accessing physiotherapy, but feel it would benefit you, or if you find yourself on a lengthy waiting list, please contact the office at Inflammatory Neuropathies UK.
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Hygiene, Cleanliness and Teeth
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Personal cleanliness for those who cannot care for themselves fully can be a problem. Many returning home from hospital may have reduced use of their hands, usually temporarily, but sometimes permanently. Many will be unable to wash themselves, brush their hair, use the lavatory, wipe their bottoms, brush their teeth, cut their nails etc. It is important for both hygiene and self-esteem that these matters are attended to by a carer.
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Through no fault of their own, many people’s teeth are neglected during periods of serious illness. Once you have returned home, arrange an appointment with your dentist as soon as possible. If you have difficulty attending a dental practice, enquire about community dental services. Using an electric toothbrush can be helpful if you have residual weakness in your hands. More advice can be found on the British Society for Disability and Oral Health website.
Diet
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During illness, nutritional needs are at their peak, but it is not unusual for patients to lose their appetites or taste for food. Worry and fear often accompany illness and can also contribute to loss of appetite. Good nutrition can be a powerful ally in the process of recovery, so if you need advice, ask to speak to a nutritionist. If taste has been affected, this will usually improve with time. Plastic utensils can be used if bitter or metallic tastes are experienced whilst eating.
Sometimes taste changes can be related to medications, but drugs should not be discontinued without first consulting your GP. Try to eat a healthy, balanced diet and keep consumption of sugary and processed foods, and drinks that are high in caffeine or alcohol to a minimum. There is some excellent advice on nutrition on the NHS website:
Your Immune System
Although caused by your immune system malfunctioning, MMN does not weaken or damage your immune system, and having MMN does not mean that your immune system is compromised, unless you are being treated with steroids.
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Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy diet and sleep regime will all help during recovery. There is anecdotal evidence, and lots of hype surrounding supplements and alternative remedies, but very few are known to have real benefits. Most people are able to get the vitamins they need from their diet, but if you wish to take dietary supplements, your doctor (rather than Google!) will be able to advise you on anything that may help you during recovery.
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Exercise and Rest
Physiotherapy, occupational therapy (OT) and speech and language therapy play a vital role in maximizing functional ability.
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Exercise can help to improve your muscle strength and reduce your overall sense of fatigue. It can also aid sleep and support mood through the production of endorphins. Other benefits include helping your heart and lungs remain healthy and making you feel more positive about yourself. However, it may take weeks or even months before you feel some of the benefits, so it is important to pace yourself. You will find lots of exercises online, including seated exercises, or you could ask your GP or physiotherapist about how to start regular exercise and what exercises might be right for you.
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Visit the NHS website for advice on exercise: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/
and also for advice on sleep: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/sleep-and-tiredness/
Pain
​​Being in pain naturally impacts on mood and the ability to cope with everyday situations. If you are experiencing pain, it is important to talk to your family and friends about this, so that they understand what you are going through and why you might be irritable and difficult to live with at times.
Other Sources of Support:
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Pain Concern https://painconcern.org.uk/
British Pain Society https://www.britishpainsociety.org/
Pain Association Scotland https://painassociation.co.uk/
Welsh Pain Society https://www.welshpainsociety.org.uk/
Pain Relief Foundation https://painrelieffoundation.org.uk/
Pain Relief Ireland https://painreliefireland.ie/