Myositis means inflammation of the muscles that you use to move your body. An injury, infection, or autoimmune disease can cause it. Two specific kinds are polymyositis and dermatomyositis.
Myositis (my-o-SY-tis) is a rare type of autoimmune disease that inflames and weakens muscle fibers.
There are many causes of muscle inflammation, including infections, drug or medication side effects, trauma, cancer and, especially. autoimmune disease, in which the immune system mistakenly injures muscle tissue, causing muscle weakness and other related conditions.
The most common sign of inflammatory myopathies is weakness in the large muscles of the shoulders, neck, or hips. Inflammation damages tissue so you lose strength in these muscles. Inflammatory myopathies may cause problems like these: Trouble climbing stairs, lifting obects over your head, or getting out of a seat.
Occasionally, myositis can affect breathing and swallowing. This may occur at the start of severe cases when the muscles used for these important tasks become weak. On rare occasions, this condition may cause weakening of the heart.
Viral myositis is most commonly caused by influenza and enterovirus but can be caused by many different classes of viruses [12], and clinical presentations range from myalgias to focal myositis to rhabdomyolysis.
The risk of developing polymyositis increases with age and shows the highest rates of incidence between the ages of 35 to 44 and 55 to 64. Women are also twice as likely as men to develop polymyositis.
After a careful history and physical exam to document the pattern of weakness in muscles, a doctor who suspects myositis likely will order a blood test to check the level of creatine kinase (CK), an enzyme that leaks out of muscle fibers when the fibers are being damaged. In PM, the CK level is usually very high.
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 is polymyositis? Polymyositis is a disease that causes muscles to become irritated and inflamed. The muscles eventually start to break down and become weak. The condition can affect muscles all over the body.
Repeated blood tests for the muscle protein creatine kinase (CK or creatine phosphokinase [CPK]) are the only accurate test for rhabdo. A healthcare provider can do a blood test for CK: The muscle protein CK enters the bloodstream when muscle tissue is damaged.
Some people with inflammatory muscle diseases take a combination of steroids and immunosuppressants daily for three to six months or until symptoms subside. These medications may be taken for these short periods of time throughout life, as recommended by your doctor.
Furthermore, MRI can also detect subclinical muscle inflammation such as in amyopathic DM (34), in which up to 100% of patients have muscle inflammation on WB MRI, or in amyopathic ASyS patients where muscular inflammation is frequently observed (28).
Alternate between ice packs to reduce inflammation and heat to improve blood flow. Soak in a warm bath with Epsom salts or take a warm shower. Take over-the-counter pain relievers (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen). Try complementary therapies, such as massage, meditation or acupuncture.
Based on visual observation, the ancients characterised inflammation by five cardinal signs, namely redness (rubor), swelling (tumour), heat (calor; only applicable to the body' extremities), pain (dolor) and loss of function (functio laesa).
None of these tests is perfect. Sometimes false negative results occur when inflammation actually is present. False positive results may occur when abnormal test results suggest inflammation even when none is present.
1. Omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids , which are abundant in fatty fish such as salmon or tuna, are among the most potent anti-inflammatory supplements. These supplements may help fight several types of inflammation, including vascular inflammation.
Dermatomyositis is bimodal in age distribution, with one peak at 5 to 15 years and another at 45 to 60 years. Polymyositis rarely occurs in the pediatric age group, and the mean age is between 50 and 60 years.
The diagnosis of myositis involves a complete physical exam, blood test, electromyography (a neurological test that assess the electrical activity in your muscles), and a muscle biopsy, which involves removing a small sample of muscle tissue for testing.
Reduce the number of foods made with wheat flour and sugar, especially bread, pasta, and most packaged snack foods. Choose instead foods containing whole grains, such as brown rice and bulgur wheat. Decrease intake of saturated fat by eating less animal fats and products made with palm kernel oil.