Do you sometimes find it difficult to get up from a chair? Do your legs feel weak when you climb stairs? Or do you feel like you have no strength in your hand when you lift something? Although we think that these things are normal things that happen due to fatigue, sometimes there may be a disease behind this that we have not heard much about. Today we are talking about such a rare disease, but it is worth being aware of. That is Polymyositis.
Simply put, what is Polymyositis?
Polymyositis is a very rare condition. It is an autoimmune disease . Think of it this way: our immune system is like an army that protects a country. The job of that army is to protect our bodies by fighting germs and viruses that come from outside. But in Polymyositis, this army goes awry and starts attacking our own healthy muscles instead of external enemies.
Simply put, our own defenses are attacking us . This is called Myositis, which means inflammation or swelling of the muscles. In Polymyositis , the word "Poly" means "many." This means that in this condition, muscles in several parts of the body can be affected at the same time.
This often affects the muscles closest to the middle of our body. For example:
- Hands (especially shoulders and arms)
- Hips and thighs
- Chest and back
- Neck muscles
The exact cause of this disease has not yet been found. And there is no cure for it yet. But don't worry. With proper treatment and management, many people have been able to control these symptoms and live normal lives.
What are the symptoms of this disease?
The symptoms of polymyositis can vary from person to person. However, there are some common symptoms and the difficulties they cause in daily life. Let's look at them in a table.
| Symptom | Simply explained |
|---|---|
| Muscle weakness | This is the main symptom. The muscles, especially in the shoulders, hips, and thighs, become weak. It becomes difficult to get up from a chair, climb stairs, and lift weights. |
| Muscle pain and stiffness | Muscles ache, pain is felt even when touched. You may feel stiff, especially when you wake up in the morning. |
| Difficulty swallowing (Dysphagia) | Weakening of the throat muscles makes it difficult to swallow food and drink, and makes you feel like you're choking. |
| Difficulty breathing (Dyspnea) | If the chest muscles become weak, it becomes difficult to breathe and feels like a gasp. |
| Difficulty speaking | If the muscles in the throat and neck are affected, your voice may change and it may be difficult to speak clearly. |
| Other features | There may also be persistent fatigue, joint pain, weakness, weight loss, and a fever. |
The most important thing is that if you are having a hard time breathing or swallowing food or drink , it is an emergency. In such a case, you should go to the emergency room (ETU) of a hospital immediately.
What are the causes and risk factors for developing polymyositis?
As we've discussed before, no definitive cause has been found for this. However, certain things may increase the likelihood of this condition occurring.
Possible causes
- Other autoimmune diseases: If you already have another autoimmune disease like `(Lupus)`, `(Rheumatoid arthritis )`, `(Scleroderma)`, you are at higher risk of developing Polymyositis.
- Viral infections: Sometimes a viral infection such as `(COVID-19)`, `(Influenza)` (flu), the common cold, `(HIV)` can be a trigger for this condition.
Who is at higher risk?
- For women: Women are about twice as likely to develop this disease than men.
- For people between the ages of 30-60: Although it can develop at any age, the disease is most often diagnosed in people in this age group.
- For those with other autoimmune diseases.
How do you find this, Doctor?
When you see a doctor with the symptoms you mentioned above, he will first ask you about your symptoms in detail. Then he will examine your muscles. In addition, he will order several tests to diagnose the disease accurately.
| Test | What do you see in this? |
|---|---|
| Blood Tests | This test looks at certain enzymes that are released into the blood when muscles are damaged and the types of antibodies that are produced against our own bodies. |
| MRI scan | This allows you to clearly see things like swelling and inflammation in the muscles. |
| EMG test (Electromyography) | This looks at the electrical activity of the muscles. This can detect any abnormalities in the functioning of the muscles. |
| Muscle Biopsy | This involves taking a very small piece of the affected muscle and examining it under a microscope. This helps to determine exactly what damage has occurred to the muscle. |
How is it treated?
As we mentioned earlier, there is no cure for this disease. However, treatment aims to control inflammation in the muscles, reduce symptoms, and help you function as normally as possible. Many people go into remission with treatment.
There are several main treatment methods:
- Corticosteroids: These are a powerful class of medications that reduce inflammation. This is often the first treatment to start with.
- Immunosuppressants: These drugs work by slightly reducing the activity of our immune system, which reduces the damage to our own tissues.
- Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG): This is a slightly different treatment. It involves giving your body antibodies taken from healthy people through a saline solution. In simple terms, it's like giving your immune system something else to focus on. It reduces the number of times it attacks your muscles.
- Physical Therapy: This is very important. A physical therapist will teach you exercises that will help strengthen your muscles and keep them flexible. This can help prevent your muscles from getting weaker.
When should I see a doctor?
It is very important to seek medical advice quickly in such a medical condition.
- If you experience new muscle weakness or pain, especially if it doesn't subside within a few days, see a doctor immediately .
- If you are already receiving treatment and feel like your symptoms are getting worse, or if you feel like the medication is not working, tell your doctor .
| Go to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately! | |
|---|---|
| If you have a hard time breathing or feel like you are suffocating. | |
| If you have difficulty swallowing food or drink or if you are constantly choking. | |
| If a body part that can normally be moved suddenly becomes unable to move . | |
Is this a hereditary disease?
Some studies have shown that there may be a genetic link to this disease. This means that if someone in the family has it, others may have a small chance of developing it. But it has not been proven 100% yet. So, just because you have this disease, you don't need to worry that your children will definitely develop it.
Polymyositis is a lifelong condition that needs to be managed. But it doesn't have to stop you from living. With the right medical treatment, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes, most people can control their symptoms and live a happy life. The most important thing is to pay attention to changes in your body and seek medical advice in a timely manner.
Take-Home Message
- Polymyositis is a rare condition in which our own immune system attacks our muscles.
- Muscle weakness, pain, difficulty swallowing and breathing are the main symptoms.
- Although there is no complete cure for this, symptoms can be very well controlled with medication and physical therapy.
- If you experience difficulty breathing or swallowing, consider it an emergency and go to a hospital's Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.
- If you have any concerns about your symptoms or treatment, talk openly with your doctor.
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