Polymyositis

Question: Where is the best treatment available for Polymyositis? Can anyone help me by providing information on hospitals in the US or anywhere else in the world where good treatment for Polymyositis is available?. Any help will be appreciated! Thanks!

Answer: Polymyositis is a type of inflammatory myopathy, related to dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis. Polymyositis means 'many muscle inflammation'. Polymyositis tends to become evident in adulthood, presenting with bilateral proximal muscle weakness, often noted in the upper legs due to early fatigue while walking. Sometimes the weakness presents itself by the person being unable to rise from a seated position without help, or inability to raise their arms above their head. The weakness is generally progressive, accompanied by lymphocytic inflammation (mainly cytotoxic T8 lymphocytes). The cause is unknown, but seems to be related to autoimmune factors, genetics, and perhaps viruses. In rare cases, the cause is known to be infectious, associated with the pathogens that cause Lyme disease, toxoplasmosis, and others. Polymyositis, like dermatomyositis, strikes females with greater frequency than males. The skin involvement of dermatomyositis is absent in polymyositis. Diagnosis is fourfold, including elevation of creatine kinase, signs and symptoms, electromyograph (EMG) alteration, and a positive muscle biopsy. Treatment generally involves glucocorticoids, especially prednisone. Unfortunately very few in the medical profession are familiar enough with the disease to be able to accurately diagnose it in the early stages. Therefore many patients go undiagnosed for years, suffering needlessly. Sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM): IBM is often confused with (misdiagnosed as) polymyositis and polymyositis that does not respond to treatment is likely IBM. sIBM comes on over months to years, polymyositis comes on over weeks to months. It appears that sIBM and polymyositis share some common features, especially the initial sequence of immune system activation, however, polmyositis does not display the subsequent muscle degeneration and protein abnormalities as seen in IBM. As well, polymyositis tends to respond well to treatments, IBM does not. IBM and polymyositis apparently involve different disease mechanisms than are seen in dermatomyositis. The link below has some suggestions on treatments.

Question: What type of disease is polymyositis? I have looked at a bunch of different websites- some say muscular, some say skeletal, and some say nervous. I am doing a report for biology, and I need to know what type it is.

Answer: It's a connective tissue illness which is uncommon & causes inflammation of the MUSCLES. There's progressive muscle weakness in muscles closest to the trunk like the shoulders; upper arms; hips; thighs; neck. It occurs on both sides of body. There is also mild joint or muscle tenderness. Possible difficulty swallowing. It belongs to a group of conditions called inflammatory myopathies which are diseases or abnormal conditions of the muscles. It is suspected they are autoimmune diseases Google: mayo clinic>>diseases>>polymyositis Good luck

Question: What are the last & final stages of the disease Polymyositis? How does death occur?

Answer: Death from the disorder is rare, but may occur in patients with severe and progressive muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing (dysphagia), malnutrition, pneumonia, or respiratory failure. Prepared by: Office of Communications and Public Liaison National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke National Institutes of Health Bethesda, MD 20892

Question: Can brain be effected in advanced polymyositis? If so how? can any one help?

Answer: No, but some the underlying causes of polymyositis might effect the brain. "Polymyositis" simply means many (poly) muscle (myos) inflammations (itisis). There is not universal agreement on the etiologies, but some viral infections (eg. HTLV) or autoimmune syndromes are prime suspects. Many viral infections and autoimmune disease can cause encephalitis , cerebral edema and/or cognitive abnormalities. So, in theory, a condition that causes polymyositis could also cause intracranial pathology as well. I have not read or seen cases of this occurring, so I suspect it is uncommon.

Question: does anyone know what polymyositis means? does anyone know someone with polymyositis? polymyositis is a disease that attacks the muscles. it is rare, only 1 in a 100,000 get this disease ech year. there is no found cause for the disease thus far. no one is known for living pass five years with the disease. there is no cure.

Answer: I think you have recieved some bad information on this disorder. Yes it is an inflamitory myopathy which causes chronic muscle inflamation. It is not however a disorder which causes death within 5 years. In approximately 15 % of cases there may be shortened life span, but those are the cases with other issues such as cancer, heart problems and other connective tissue disorders. Most patients with polymyositis have great success with medications and go into remissions. Some may only have a single flare up in thier lifetime, Others may have on again off again flare ups. But the bottom line is it is treatable, though not cureable. The earier it is diagnosed the better as those diagnosed early respond more quikly to treatment. I suggest you do a search on polymyositis and do some more research, there are many good sites. My Best Wishes

Question: I was diagnosed with lupus(sle) in 1992. polymyositis in 2006. My shoulders are very weak and so are my hips? I have severe weakness and loss of strength in my shoulders, hip, thighs, and upper arms, it is very difficult to climb stairs, and getting up from a chair and lifting objects combing my hair and it's getting very hard to get out of bed.

Answer: I'm sorry, what is the question? It sounds like you're complaining of your symptoms, and, in general, if your plan with your current physician is inadequate, you should consider getting a second opinion.

Question: Neuro Dr diagnosed as Polymyositis,advised 6 prednisone 5 mg daily.Prednisolone 10mg is available. Is it OK.? I am suffering from Muscles weakness disease. Symptoms are difficulty in climbing stairs/hilly path even with support, More pressure is felt in eyelids & fingers movement. The effect is more in right side, specially right leg above knee. Not in a position stand for more time. Even in plain area, after walking 50m, need rest.

Answer: If you take them all at the same time then you should be fine taking 3 of the 10mg as the total amount will be the same.

Question: ok, Tracolimus is an immunosuppressive drug and polymyositis an autoimmune disease.? still the rationale to giving it to someone without the knowledge of a cause to their condition. polymyositis is with a BIG QUESTION MARK for the past 4 years.

Answer: there are many questions in medicine that are not answered. When a drug works, sometimes you just go with it. There are many chemotherapy drugs that they don't know how they work, they just know they work

Question: Polymyositis anyone? Does anyone have any ideas for non-traditional or naturopathic treatments for polymyositis? My wife has been diagnosed but the treatment side effects are almost as bad as the disease. She is currently taking prednizone as well as some chemotherapy drugs and the side effects have her so depressed that she cries every day. Thanks for your time.

Answer: I suggest she take antidepressants such as Citalopram, one of the side effects of prednisolone is severe depression and If she takes Citalopram it will help to feel better. Sometimes licorice root( looks like tea bag) and Grapefruit jiuce helps and have some similar actions to Prednisolone.....I wish I could help more.I know how you feel when you have an illness....I suggest you read a lot about the illness....You can go to pubmed...It is where all medical journals about your illness are...just go to google and then search for "pubmed" click on that and when you get there search for polymyositis.

Question: Is there any ayurvedic medicine for muscle disease called Polymyositis? Polymyositis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the muscles and as a result makes the person very weak. Doctors prescribe steroid (Prednisone) and immuno suppresent drugs like Methotrextrate and Immuran. Would like to know if ayurvedic medicine will help

Answer: ATHIMADHURAM is a plant steroid and is very effective.