Muscle Weakness

I mentioned in another post that I am newly diagnosed. I have however had symptoms for a long long long time. Years, like most of you here before you were diagnosed.

During my last flare (which I now know was Lupus) I spent about 6 months in bed with muscles so weak I couldnt lift my arms, couldnt hold my head up, even lying still, my muscles burned with fatigue. Breathing was difficult because it felt as if the muscles on my chest wall were collapsing. Chewing and swallowing were a chore. My husband had to help me to the bathroom, bathe me.. it was a nightmare. At this same time I had extremely painful knee and hip joints, buzzing feelings in my hands and legs, numbness in my face, migraines that would not go away, vertigo. I lost weight, my hair fell out.

I was told at the time, that it was ALL anxiety. I had gone to a neurologist as I thought I must have some horrible brain tumor or neurological disease. They did many many tests, MRI's cat scans, blood work. He told me I was fine. I was anxious.

I think that HippiMom is experiencing burning and weakness (I might have gotten the name wrong)

has anyone else experienced muslce weakness? Is it a symptom of lupus?

Thanks for any info you can give me.

Monkey

Monkey,

  It sounds like you have had a rough time...((Hugs)). Did your doctor check you for Fibro? The burning, weak muscles sounds alot like fibro but, Lupus can also attack your muscles as well. Sometimes its hard to tell what disease is causing what symptom.

  Your last flare does sound like a nightmare. When lupus attacked my equallibirum I was laid up for months too. I couldn't do anything like you. My family had to take care of me. It ended up damaging my equallibirum, I lost alot of hearing in my left ear, and have constant ringing in both ears. I had to learn how to walk again with my balance issues. I still have problems walking at night or on uneven ground and have no balance in water, so I can no longer swim. It gets frustrating at times.

  The muscle pain and weakness can definately be caused from lupus. I think alot of us experience it in flares. I hope your meds kick in soon and you will start to feel alot better. Hang in there and take care. Keep us updated. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

                                                                Babs

Others have told you that muscle weakness can be a symptom of lupus.  It can also be a symptom of a connecitve tissue disease like the one I have.  Mixed connective tissue disease which is a combination of lupus, scleroderma and polymyositis.

Myositis (inflammatory muscle diseases) diseases like polymyositis and dermatomyositis will have symptoms of muscle weakness and swallowing difficulties.  Getting up and down, climbing stairs, lifting overhead, and swallowing problems are common symptoms.  PM hits your proximal (off your trunk) muscles more and DM will hit your distal (muscles farther from your trunk) muscles more.  Skin rashes are typical with DM.

Steroids can also cause muscle weakness in some patients.

It is fairly common for lupers to have symptoms of more than one auto immune disease.  If your muscle weakness is persistent and getting worse I would ask you doctor to test your CPK and SED rate.  Unfortunately, myositis diseases are not always easy to diagnose and test results can be negative when you actually have the disease.....just like lupus.

I would advise you to push your doctor to find out why you are experiencing weakness.  Good luck and hope you feel better.

Bill