Myositis, Polymyositis, Dermatomyositis, Inclusion Body Myositis Causes Muscle Weakness Symptoms

Myositis is doctor speak for chronic skeletal muscle swelling or inflammation.   Also medically voiced as inflammatory myopathy.

The cause of this muscle disease is unknown. But a strong suspicion is that myositis is an autoimmune disease.

There are 3 types for causing prolonged muscle inflammation of myositis:

These rare disorders all have the symptom of progressive muscle weakness in common.

Polymyositis usually affects your neck, shoulder, upper arm, hip and thigh muscles symmetrically.  Most often diagnosed in the 30 to 60 age group.

Its gradual development of muscle weakness routinely leads to symptoms and difficulty with:

Your symptoms may fluctuate or go into periods of remission, albeit rarely.

If you have polymyositis, then you may experience some complications involving:

Polymyositis is often associated with other conditions as well, such as:

Dermatomyositis is very similar to polymyositis, but for a fever and its distinctive skin rash. Dermatomyositis’ rash has a reddish to purplish skin splotch appearance, customarily developing on your:

  • toes
  • heels
  • elbows
  • eyelids
  • knuckles
  • around your nails

However, dermatomyositis caused rashes may occur on your face, neck, shoulders, upper chest and back too.  And expect your rashy areas to be more sun sensitive.

Your skin rash can occur along with your muscle weakness or precede this symptom by a couple of weeks.

Dermatomyositis sufferers are known to have an increased risk of infections, notably of the respiratory and digestive varieties.   Coupled with other gastrointestinal problems besides.

Inclusion body myositis has its own distinguishing aspects. Its muscle weakness onset is very gradual, potentially taking months or years to develop.

Inclusion body myositis weakness might be asymmetrical or perhaps only affect one side of your body.  Usually affecting your wrist, finger, forearm, quadriceps and front foot lifting muscles.  As such, you may experience difficulty with:

  • writing
  • gripping
  • pinching
  • buttoning

Tripping and falling are frequently the first symptoms you’ll notice with inclusion body myositis.

Symptoms of inclusion body myositis ordinarily afflicts men who have been on this planet for at least half a century.

For polymyositis and dermatomyositis, health care professionals initially treat with high doses of prednisone or another corticosteroid drug. One the flip side, there is no prevalent course of treatment for inclusion body myositis.

Muscular Health Blurbs: