Myositis

Myositis treatment plans are highly specialized, so receiving the correct diagnosis is critical. At the Rheumatic Disease Center offices in Milwaukee and Glendale, Wisconsin, the experienced rheumatology team provides patients with a prompt and accurate diagnosis. They also offer advanced treatments to patients with myositis. Call your nearest Rheumatic Disease Center office today or book an appointment online for the best in myositis care.

What is myositis?

Myositis is a group of rare disorders that all cause muscle inflammation. Because myositis is a collection of diseases rather than a single condition, symptoms vary, but they can include:

• Reddish-purple rash on the eyelids or joints
• Muscle weakness
• Difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
• Loss of balance
• Fatigue
• Trouble raising the arms
• Chronic dry cough
• Falls
• Trouble rising when seated

Myositis symptoms sometimes appear suddenly or may come on gradually over time.

What are the different kinds of myositis?

Two myositis conditions the Rheumatic Disease Center team sees most often are:

Dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis (DM) affects people of both sexes and all ages but is most common in women. DM causes a rash on the:

• Back
• Upper chest
• Eyelids
• Cheeks
• Nose
• Elbows
• Knees
• Knuckles

Muscle weakness often follows. Other dermatomyositis symptoms include inflamed or swollen tissue around your fingernails and hardened lumps of calcium (calcinosis) under your skin.

Polymyositis

Polymyositis affects people over 20, and more women get it than men. The primary symptom is muscle weakness that starts in your trunk (neck, shoulders, hips, and back) and worsens over time.

Some people find the weakness spreads to other parts of their body, even as far as the hands and fingers. In other cases, polymyositis patients experience symptoms caused by a weakened digestive tract and chest wall muscles.

Other myositis diseases include sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM), juvenile myositis, and necrotizing myopathy.

How is myositis diagnosed?

Diagnosing myositis involves having a physical exam, so your rheumatologist understands your overall condition better.

The Rheumatic Disease Center team might also order blood tests, an MRI, or electromyography (EMG, a study of how your nerves and muscles work). A muscle biopsy (taking a tiny sample of muscle tissue for analysis) could help with diagnosis.

Some patients might need a spinal tap, where your doctor draws a sample of spinal fluid for lab analysis.

How is myositis treated?

Your myositis symptoms vary greatly depending on which condition you have. For this reason, the Rheumatic Disease Center team recommends individual treatment for each symptom.

Corticosteroids and immunosuppressants often form part of a myositis treatment plan. They help by reducing the body’s immune system response so that it doesn’t attack your body so severely. Physical therapy also helps improve your condition.

Call the Rheumatic Disease Center today or book an appointment online to find the most effective treatments for your myositis.