Index
Definition: myopathy is a disease of the skeletal muscles.
We were caused by nervous disorders that usually call our attention because we develop weakness or rapid fatigue in the muscle during activities when we use our limbs.
There may also be a delay in recovery after playing sports or simply a lower performance than other times. When a myopathy is acquired at a late age, there is often an underlying reason, such as thyroid disease or some problem in the development of the adrenal glands.
Myopathy symptoms
The effects of myopathy are generally mild and transient.
Symptoms include:
- Muscle weakness and movement problems can cause patients to become dependent and, in rare cases, require a wheelchair.
- Muscular dystrophy is a severe form of myopathy that can have more severe symptoms.
- Unlike neuropathy, myopathy does not cause changes in insensitivity.
Causes
The myopathies are very diverse in the cause since some are produced due to a central process in the muscle, while others are secondary to another condition.
There are also several types of myopathies. Some are inherited and caused by a genetic defect, inflammatory response, or endocrine problems.
The causes of myopathy due to a primary muscular disease include:
- A bacterium or virus causes infectious myopathies.
- Myopathies induced by trauma, such as rhabdomyolysis.
- Muscular dystrophies are progressive hereditary diseases affecting muscles.
Common causes of secondary myopathies include:
- Thyroid disease
- Some chemotherapeutic agents.
- Tumors that can cause polymyositis or dermatomyositis.
- Side effects of medications.
- A chronic disorder of the immune system.
Risk factor’s
Some of the risk factors for myopathy include:
- Autoimmune disorders such as scleroderma and thyroiditis.
- Endocrine conditions include Cushing’s syndrome, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, or Addison’s disease.
- Metabolic disorders
- Exposure to toxins such as herbicides or insecticides.
- Infections such as HIV or Lyme disease.
- Deficiency of vitamin D, vitamin E or toxicity.
- Medications (especially lipid-lowering statins, some antihistamines, and long-term use of corticosteroids)
Diagnosis of myopathy
The diagnosis comes from the clinical history of weakness often accompanied by pain. You can also order blood tests. It may include electromyographic and nerve conduction studies and a neuromuscular radiological evaluation. We may have to perform a muscle biopsy for a more definitive assessment.
Treatment
Rehabilitation is aimed at further improving your neuromuscular function. Your treatment will adapt to your particular condition.
- Medications for muscular dystrophy.
- Lose weight if it is above the ideal.
- Corticosteroids
