Inflammatory Myositis In Saginaw, MI
Myositis is a broad term that refers to conditions that cause muscle inflammation. Inflammatory myositis commonly affects females of African-American origin. However, other demographics are also susceptible to myositis. If you have inflammatory myositis, you’re likely to experience pain, swelling, and weakness.
MI Health Clinic is a family-friendly medical clinic that provides personalized treatment and compassionate care for individuals living with various chronic conditions. If you’re experiencing symptoms consistent with inflammatory myositis in Saginaw, MI, contact MI Health Clinic to enjoy a comprehensive evaluation and tailored treatment.
Causes of Inflammatory Myositis
Any condition that triggers inflammation in the muscles is considered a cause of myositis. Causes of myositis are divided into four broad categories: inflammatory diseases, drugs, infection, and injury.
Inflammatory conditions – Inflammatory conditions, particularly autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, can cause myositis. This is because such conditions typically trigger inflammation across the body and eventually spread to the muscles.
Infection – Viral infections may trigger myositis, especially if the viruses invade the muscles or release substances that attack the muscle fibers. Flu, common cold, and HIV viruses are some of the pathogens that can lead to myositis.
Drugs – Some medications and even hard drugs such as cocaine can cause temporary muscle damage.
Injury – Strenuous exercise can lead to muscle pain, swelling, and weakness, which explains the discomfort you may experience after an intense workout. Muscle inflammation is usually the reason behind these symptoms. Injury and exercise-related myositis usually resolve after a couple of days, without much intervention.
Seeking Treatment for Myositis
Muscle weakness is the primary indicator of myositis. Muscle weakness may be readily detectable or only identifiable via testing. Individuals with myositis may or may not experience myalgias (muscle pain).
In many cases, the muscle weakness deteriorates over time and affects large muscle groups, including the back, hips, shoulders, and back. If you’ve been feeling progressively weak, you should get evaluated as soon as possible. Other symptoms, e.g., rashes, difficulty breathing, and thickening skin, may be present depending on the cause of myositis.
To diagnose myositis, our doctors in Saginaw, MI, perform various tests, including blood tests, MRI scans, electromyography (EMG), and muscle biopsy tests.
Our doctors recommend various treatments for myositis based on the underlying cause. For example, in the case of inflammatory conditions, our doctors may prescribe immunosuppressive medications. However, if you have myositis related to drug use, our doctors will likely recommend stopping the specific medication.
To find out more about inflammatory myositis in Saginaw, MI, please call MI Health Clinic today.