Myalgia / Myositis

How often have you visited a doctor and were unable to understand a lot of words that he uses? Having a better grasp of medical terms help you get a good understanding of the disease you are suffering from. On your last visit, if you have heard the doctor using the words “Myalgia and Myositis” but were confused what they actually mean, don’t worry as today we will help you understand this disease.

Myalgia

This is a term broadly used to define muscle pain and symbolizes many different injuries and diseases. For instance, Myalgia is used to describe the main symptom of a pulled muscle. The pain can be localized or generalized depending on the cause of pain.

Myositis

Myositis often refers to inflammation of the muscles and describes the symptoms rather than describing the condition. A person suffering from this condition can experience muscle pain, weakness and muscle swelling.

Causes Myalgia / Myositis

The most common cause of Myalgia is a common injury such as tension, strains or hematoma. A bruise in the muscle can also be a result of repetitive strain injury. It may also be caused as a result of autoimmune disorders or because of certain medications such as cocaine, fibrates or statins.

Myositis also results due to similar causes; however the most common causes reported for this disease are autoimmune disorders. It can also be caused as a result of side effect of various drugs such as statins.

Symptoms

Some of the most commonly seen symptoms of Myalgia and Myositis include:

Weight Loss.
Fever and Chills.
Sleep Disturbance.
Tingling and Numbness.
Visual Disturbance.
Ringing in The Ears.
Gastrointestinal Symptoms.

Diagnosis

The first step to diagnosis the neurological disease is to note the exact location of discomfort or pain. Symptoms may differ from individual to individual therefore the doctor take a note of all the neurological symptoms, constitutional symptoms, and other symptoms that a patient might be experiencing.

Physical Examination: To determine the underlying causes of Myalgia or Myositis, the doctor may ask you to undertake a complete physical analysis. Through this test, the physician may determine stiffness, coordination or weakness that an individual might be experiencing. Enlargement, wasting and permanent shortening of the muscles are also evident through this test.
Tests: The patient is required to undergo a complete blood test that may detect inflammation and the presence of antibodies. The test also helps measure the speed of sedimentation of RBC’s along with evaluating the hormones level, electrolytes level to help determine the presence of breakdown of tissue. The doctor may even advise you to take a urine test.

Some of the most commonly suggests test include:

Electromyography (EMG).
X-Ray.
Nerve Conduction Studies.
Bone Scans.
Muscle Biopsy.

Treatment

Myalgia or Myositis is treated depending on the specific diagnosis. In certain cases, over-the-counter (OTC) drugs can be used to condition while in other cases; a more precise treatment might be required.

Passive stretching, massage, and heat may provide temporary relief to the patient but the pain returns soon. The pain is also treated with the use of a dental appliance or mouth guard, immunosuppressive and steroids medicines. However, make sure you do not indulge in self-medication as it can cause more harm than good to your body.

Prognosis

Since Myositis and Myalgia are symptoms and not disease, the expected result depends on the effective diagnosis and specific treatment. Consult a neurologist who has years of experience and has worked with a number of patients suffering from this disorder. The symptoms continue to vary indefinitely, so make sure you get the right treatment according to your symptoms and requirements.