Is your body fighting against your own muscles? Let's learn exactly about myositis!

Do you sometimes feel like your limbs are numb, or you feel so tired that you can't do anything? Or do your muscles hurt or feel swollen? You may not pay much attention to these things. However, it is possible that these are more than just simple fatigue. Today we are going to talk about a condition in which your body's own immune system attacks your own muscles, which is a bit complicated, but very important to know. That is myositis .

What is myositis? Let's understand it simply!

Simply put, myositis is when your immune system – the body’s defense system – mistakenly attacks your own muscles . It’s like attacking your own home. This causes chronic inflammation in your muscles. Inflammation is characterized by swelling, redness, and pain. As this inflammation continues, your muscles gradually weaken. This can sometimes lead to severe muscle pain.

Myositis is a disease that belongs to a larger group of diseases called myopathy . Myopathy is a general term for any disease that affects the muscles that connect to our bones and move us (also called skeletal muscles ). So, in myositis, these are the muscles that are mainly affected.

Which muscles are affected by myositis?

There are different types of myositis, and each type can affect different muscle groups in the body. But the most common ones affect the muscles we use for everyday activities. Consider:

• The muscles in your arms and shoulders .
• The muscles in your legs and hips .
• The muscles in your stomach and back area (i.e., your torso).

These are usually the most affected. However, some people may also experience muscle weakness in other areas. For example:

• The muscles around the eyes .
• The muscles around our esophagus (these are what help us swallow food).
• Our diaphragm is the main muscle that helps us breathe.

Doctors still don't know exactly what causes myositis. There's no cure for it yet . But don't worry! Your doctor will give you treatment to help manage your symptoms. They will also recommend exercises and stretches to help strengthen and stretch the affected muscles while your symptoms are mild.

Important:If you suddenly feel faint, have difficulty walking or moving your limbs, or develop new skin rashes or pain , see a doctor immediately . If you have difficulty breathing or swallowing, go to a hospital emergency room immediately . These are not good signs to play with.

Are there types of myositis? Let's learn about that too!

Yes, there are several main types of myositis. Your doctor will tell you exactly what type of myositis you have based on your symptoms and the location of the affected muscles. There are three main types:

• Polymyositis
• Dermatomyositis
• Inclusion body myositis

Let's look at each of these in a little more detail.

Let's learn about Polymyositis

When we say polymyositis , the word "poly" means "many." This means that several muscles are affected at the same time. Most often, it affects the muscles that are closer to the center of your body. Think of the shoulders and hips.

This condition called polymyositis does not occur suddenly. Symptoms appear gradually, over time . It is most common in adults. It has also been found that women are twice as likely to develop this condition as men.

If you have polymyositis, you may have difficulty performing even simple everyday tasks. For example:

• Difficulty getting up from sitting.
• Difficulty climbing stairs.
• Difficulty lifting heavy objects.
• It's hard to reach up and pick something up.

What is Dermatomyositis?

The "derma" part of the name dermatomyositis ( derma means skin) might have told you that it involves the skin. Yes, this type of myositis affects your skin as well as your muscles.

For some people, it can take months to develop, but sometimes dermatomyositis can develop suddenly, or even quickly. The most important thing is to start treatment as soon as possible . That's when you have a better chance of preventing serious complications.

Although very rare, dermatomyositis can be life-threatening , especially within the first year after symptoms begin. People with the condition are also said to have a slightly increased risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Dermatomyositis can affect anyone. When it affects young children, it is called juvenile dermatomyositis .

What if I develop inclusion body myositis?

Inclusion body myositis (IBM) is a degenerative muscle disease that occurs in people over the age of 50 .

IBM mainly affects the muscles in your limbs, especially your arms and legs below the knees . It can also affect the muscles in your throat that help you swallow. About 30% of people with IBM experience dysphagia , which is difficulty swallowing.

If you have inclusion body myositis (IBM), it may be difficult to do things like:

• It's difficult to do delicate tasks like buttoning a shirt using your fingers.
• It's hard to hold something small.
• Difficulty walking or standing upright.
• Difficulty swallowing food.

What are the common symptoms of Myositis?

Although the symptoms of myositis may vary slightly depending on the type, there are some common symptoms:

• Muscle weakness: This is the main symptom. You may suddenly be unable to lift an arm or leg, or have difficulty getting up from a chair.
• Joint or muscle pain: Muscles in the body ache, sometimes along with the joints.
• Fatigue: Feeling so tired that you can't do anything.
• Swelling: The affected muscles may swell.
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing: This is a more serious symptom. This can happen if the muscles in the throat or diaphragm are affected.
• Heartbeat irregularities (Arrhythmia): If myositis affects the heart muscle, the rhythm of the heartbeat may change.

These symptoms do not last forever. They may be worse at times and better at other times. When symptoms are severe, you may have difficulty performing daily tasks, become tired easily, and feel like you have no control over your limbs. Your doctor will explain what symptoms you can expect.

Why does myositis occur? What are the causes?

In fact, even doctors still can't say for sure what exactly causes myositis . Sometimes it can just happen for no reason. But sometimes it can be triggered by other health conditions.

As we mentioned before, myositis is an autoimmune disease.. This means that instead of protecting you, your body's immune system attacks parts of your own body. It's not yet clear why this immune system goes crazy like this. However, some people with other autoimmune diseases are more likely to develop myositis. For example:

• Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Scleroderma

People with these diseases are at increased risk of developing myositis.

Also, some people have developed myositis after several viral infections . Examples:

• The common cold
• Influenza (the flu)
• HIV

These can also cause myositis to worsen.

How do you know for sure if you have myositis? (Diagnosis)

To know for sure if you have myositis, a doctor will examine you and, if necessary, perform several tests. First, the doctor will carefully listen to your symptoms and observe how you feel when you perform certain movements. Then, they may perform several tests, such as:

• Blood tests: These can look for certain enzymes that are released into the blood when muscles are damaged, as well as certain antibodies that are seen in autoimmune diseases.
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan: This can clearly see if there is inflammation in your muscles and where it is.
• EMG (Electromyography) test: This tests the electrical activity of your muscles. This helps determine whether the muscle weakness is caused by a problem with the muscles themselves or a problem with the nerves.
• Muscle biopsy: This involves taking a small piece of the affected muscle and examining it under a microscope. This can look for changes characteristic of myositis.

Only after performing all of these tests can the doctor determine exactly whether you have myositis, and if so, what type it is.

What are the treatments for myositis?

As we mentioned earlier, there is currently no cure for myositis. But don't worry. Your doctor will provide treatment to control your symptoms and reduce the impact on your daily life. The main goal of your doctor is to control your symptoms and bring your myositis into remission . A remission is a period of time when the inflammation in your muscles has largely subsided and you are virtually symptom-free.

Here are some of the common treatments for myositis:

• Corticosteroids:These are medications like Prednisolone. They work by reducing the activity of the immune system and controlling inflammation.
• Immunosuppressants: Medications like Methotrexate and Azathioprine belong to this category. These also help reduce the overactivity of the immune system.
• Intravenous Immunoglobulin (IVIG): This is a treatment given into a vein. It is a solution containing antibodies from healthy donors. This helps to change the actions of the immune system that mistakenly attacks.

In addition to these medications, your doctor or physical therapist will teach you specific stretches and exercises . These will help keep your affected muscles flexible and strong. This will help reduce pain, stiffness, and prevent future flare-ups of symptoms.

Is there a way to prevent myositis?

Unfortunately, there is currently no known way to prevent myositis. Because the exact cause is not yet known, it is impossible to predict who will develop it or when symptoms will begin.

What can someone with myositis expect?

Although there is no cure for myositis, treatment can often bring the disease into remission . This means that there are periods when the symptoms are gone and you can live a normal life. However, for many people, myositis can be a lifelong condition. This means that symptoms may flare up and subside.

People with myositis are also at slightly increased risk of developing a condition called rhabdomyolysis , which is when muscle cells break down rapidly and their contents leak into the blood. This can be harmful to the kidneys.

Very rarely, some types of myositis, especially dermatomyositis, can be life-threatening. About 5% of people with dermatomyositis die within a year of diagnosis. That's why we say, if you develop new symptoms, don't ignore them and see a doctor right away.

When should I see a doctor?

If you have new muscle weakness, pain, or other symptoms that don't improve within a few days , see a doctor right away . Also, if you already have myositis, tell your doctor if your symptoms get worse or seem to be spreading to new areas.

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should go to a hospital emergency department immediately:

• If you suddenly can't move a body part that you can normally move.
• If you have difficulty breathing.
• If you have difficulty swallowing food and drink.

These are not good traits to take lightly at all.

Important questions to ask the doctor

When you go to see your doctor, it's very important to ask some questions like these:

• Do I have myositis or some other condition?
• What type of myositis do I have?
• What kind of tests will I have to do?
• What kind of treatment will I need?
• How does this situation affect my daily life?
• What kind of things should I be careful about?

In addition to these questions, ask and clarify anything you have.

Finally, what to remember (Take-Home Message)

Myositis is a long-term muscle inflammation caused by your own immune system attacking your muscles. This can cause symptoms to flare up occasionally, or you may have to live with the condition for the rest of your life.

But remember, although there is no complete cure for myositis, your symptoms can be well controlled with proper treatment and physical therapy exercises.

Talk to your doctor and learn more about the type of myositis you have and the changes that may be occurring in your muscles and body. Seek medical advice immediately if you develop new symptoms or if your symptoms worsen. You are not alone, and there are doctors and loved ones to help you on this journey.

`Myositis, muscle weakness, muscle pain, autoimmune disease, muscle inflammation, treatment