General symptoms of chronic inflammatory myopathy include
progressive muscle weakness that startes in
the proximal muscles–those muscles closest to the trunk of the body. Other symptoms include fatigue after walking or standing, tripping or falling, and difficulty swallowing or breathing.
What does myopathy feel like?
The common symptoms of myopathy are
muscle weakness
, impaired function in activities of daily life, and, rarely, muscle pain and tenderness. Significant muscle pain and tenderness without weakness should prompt consideration of other causes.
What is inflammatory myopathy?
What are the inflammatory myopathies? The inflammatory myopathies aare a
group of diseases that involve chronic (long-standing) muscle inflammation, muscle weakness
, and, in some cases, muscle pain. Myopathy is a general medical term used to describe a number of conditions affecting the muscles.
How does inflammatory myopathies present?
Inflammatory muscle diseases (often referred to as “inflammatory myopathies” or “myositis”) are a group of muscle diseases characterized by
chronic muscle inflammation
, inflammation of tissues associated with the muscles, muscle weakness, and occasionally muscle pain (depending on the specific case).
What kind of doctor treats inflammatory myopathy?
Patients with dermatomyositis, polymyositis, or necrotizing myopathy are usually treated by
rheumatologists
. Those with dermatomyositis may also work with a dermatologist. Those with IBM are often treated by neurologists.
Is inflammatory myopathy curable?
The
chronic inflammatory myopathies can’t be cured in most adults
but many of the symptoms can be treated. Options include medication, physical therapy, and rest. Polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and necrotizing autoimmune nmyopathy are first treated with high doses of corticosteroid drugs such as prednisone.
How serious is myopathy?
The prognosis for individuals with a myopathy varies. Some individuals have a normal life span and little or no disability. For others, however, the disorder may be
progressive, severely disabling, life-threatening, or fatal
.
What does myositis pain feel like?
Symptoms of polymyositis
muscle
weakness
.
aching or painful muscles and feeling very tired
. finding it hard to sit up, or stand after a fall. swallowing problems, or finding it hard to hold your head up.
What autoimmune disease causes leg pain?
Myositis
(my-o-SY-tis) is a rare type of autoimmune disease that inflames and weakens muscle fibers. Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s own immune system attacks itself. In the case of myositis, the immune system attacks healthy muscle tissue, which results in inflammation, swelling, pain, and eventual weakness.
What does myopathy do to the body?
Myopathy is a general term referring to any
disease that affects the muscles that control voluntary movement in the body
. Patients experience muscle weakness due to a dysfunction of the muscle fibers. Some myopathies are genetic and can be passed from parent to child.
What triggers myositis?
Myositis refers to any condition causing inflammation in muscles. Weakness, swelling, and pain are the most common myositis symptoms. Myositis causes include
infection, injury, autoimmune conditions, and drug side effects
.
What blood test shows muscle inflammation?
Doctors use a blood test to look for elevated levels of a substance called
creatine kinase
, which is released into the bloodstream when muscle fibers deteriorate. Elevated levels may mean you have an inflammatory myopathy.
What autoimmune disease causes myositis?
- Polymyositis.
- Dermatomyositis.
- Necrotizing immune-mediated myopathies.
- Inclusion body myositis.
How is myopathy treated?
Treatment options for myopathy include
splinting, bracing, medications, physical therapy, and surgery
. In rare cases, myopathy may be a sign of a serious neuromuscular disorder.
What medications are used to treat myopathy?
- Corticosteroids. These medications suppress inflammation. …
- Immunosuppressants. For people whose symptoms cause pain and limit mobility, doctors may prescribe immune-suppressing medications, or immunosuppressants. …
- Intravenous Immunoglobulin.
Does inflammatory myopathy run in families?
A small percentage of all cases of idiopathic inflammatory myopathy
have been reported to run in families
; however, the condition does not have a clear pattern of inheritance. Multiple genetic and environmental factors likely play a part in determining the risk of developing this disorder.
