Other names: myopathy, muscle weakness

Muscle weakness is technically called myopathy. It’s premature fatigue and muscle weakness when the person is unable to perform many times even normal daily activities. Muscle weakness is the most common symptom of diseases of other organs, sometimes very serious (eg. Cancers), particularly when it suddenly to be associated with other symptoms such as significant weight loss,fatigue, decreased appetite, etc. Weakened feel even patients with the flu, nutritional disorders(ie. Malabsorption – celiac disease, lack of certain enzymes needed for nutrient absorption in inflammatory bowel disease after intestinal surgery, some drugs, after chemotherapy) or fastingpatients with impaired thyroid, rheumatic diseases or after simple muscle strain (sometimes dominated muscle pain).

In addition, there are diseases coming directly from the muscle tissue – inflammation of muscular dystrophy (nutritional disorder of muscle, congenital or eg. After prolonged bed rest muscles atrophy, and when the patient gets out of bed, feeling suddenly very weak), denervation (illnesses or injuries nerves muscles), tumors, diseases of the binder, myasthenia gravis, parasitic infections(trichinosis, toxoplasmosis), some neuropathy (see. flag “pins and needles”), inborn errors of metabolism manifesting depositing some non-biodegradable substances in the muscles,sarcoidosis, fibromyalgia, and various psychologically conditioned syndromes.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic rheumatic disease (however does not affect the joints, but the muscles) sightings mostly among women in middle and old age. In addition to muscle weakness dominates pain at certain points on the back, neck and knees and the elbows.

Treatment of this disease involves psychotherapy, relaxation techniques, exercise program under the guidance of a physiotherapist and medication are administered antidepressants, analgesics and topical anti-inflammatory agents.

Congenital muscular dystrophy (Duchenne-Becker’s dystrophy) is a severe illness caused bydisorder of protein metabolism in the muscles with progressive degeneration of muscle fibers *. It can manifest itself in childhood clumsiness, weakness, progressive inability to walk and fastened to the truck. Unfortunately, the disease is an incurable disease, important or rather its prevention within * genetic diagnosis (disease is inherited, patients are only males, females are transmitters). Supportive therapy involves rehabilitation.

Myasthenia gravis is an immunological disorder of neuromuscular transmission signal. Indeed they form antibodies that block the transfer. People with myasthenia are tired to exhausted to muscle weakness. Most affected muscles in the head, neck, thighs and arms. Myasthenia is treated medically – pyridostigmine (Mestinon) ambedoniem (Mytelase) Syntostigmin, the dosage of these drugs must be extremely cautious and belong solely in the hands of a doctor. Part of the treatment are alsoimmunosuppressants (medications to reduce the activity of the immune system, the disease actually caused) – prednisone, azathioprime (Imuran, Azamunú, cyclosporine and other drugs. Sometimes the disease will require surgery – removal of the thymus gland (which often simultaneously affected by a tumor in the thymus also produce antibodies against the aforementioned nervosvalovému transmission).

It is important to be physically overload!

Muscles may also be the scene of some inflammation (infectious are mainly parasitic infections –trichinosis, toxoplasmosis, bacteria and viruses fact must attack soon other organs, muscles, their infection alone does not show) is often the inflammation to immune basis. They’re called.Polymyositis. Mainly affects the muscles of the thighs and arms on both sides and also the muscles of the torso and neck. Muscle weakness in the lower limbs is most often manifested difficulty in climbing stairs and getting up from a low chair or from a crouching position. Gait becomeswaddling.

Upper limb disability complicates lifting objects (eg. On the shelf), dressing and grooming. Lying patients may have difficulty lifting the head. Add may be other symptoms. The main principle of treatment of such diseases is movement at the time of the transitional improvements to rebuilding lost muscle strength and peace during acute inflammation. Of the drugs are administered corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. The earlier (preferably in childhood), the disease is manifest, for it has a better prognosis. But other types myositis (inflammation of muscle noninfectious origin), at which said treatment does not work.

During prolonged muscle weakness sure to see your doctor!