Myositis refers to a condition involving inflammation in one or more muscles. Weakness, swelling and pain are the most characteristic symptoms. Causes of the disease can be infections, trauma autoimmune diseases and side effects of medications.
According to statistics, myositis affects up to 50-70% of residents of megacities, who lead a sedentary lifestyle.
Unfortunately, most people do not even realize that periodic and seemingly harmless attacks of myositis can significantly reduce the quality of life and lead to complications up to the inability to move and serve themselves.
Causes of myositis
The causes of pathology are as follows:
- Overcooling. It usually results in cervical and lumbar myositis.
- Diseases of the musculoskeletal system, for example, osteoarthritis in the exacerbation phase.
- Traumatic injuries, especially affecting muscle fibers.
- Negative influence of the profession. The disease can develop in athletes, cab drivers, office workers. The fact is that such people are forced to stay in the same posture for a long time, which provokes disorders of blood circulation and lymph flow.
- Viral, bacterial infections. Myositis can develop with herpes, acute respiratory viral infections, influenza, and other infectious diseases. Moreover, inflammation occurs when the signs of the underlying disease subside or when a person has recovered.
- Autoimmune pathologies. Muscle inflammation can be a manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases.
- Infection with parasites. Pathology can occur when the body is affected by toxoplasmas, echinococcus, trichinella, larvae of the swine chain.
- Negative influence of medicines. Usually this is indicated in the instructions for the drug. Most often, myositis caused by taking medications is short-term and ends after their reception.
- The use of alcoholic beverages, drugs.
Symptoms of myositis
The disease is inherent in all signs of inflammation: pain syndrome, local and localized increase in body temperature, as well as swelling, redness, impaired functioning of the affected area.
Signs of pathology:
- Pain. It can be dull, pulling, or sharp. Sometimes its intensity increases when moving, probing the affected area, as well as in the cold. Pain syndrome limits the mobility of the inflamed area.
- Weakness and a decrease in muscle volume. Because of the pain, a person spares the affected muscle, so it almost does not work. This provokes disorders of blood circulation, tissue saturation and degenerative abnormalities.
- Localized redness of the skin.
- Swelling of the muscle due to edema.
- Local and general increase in body temperature.
- Decreased mobility of the affected muscle.
- Excessive sensitivity of the skin.
Patients with lumbar myositis suffer from sharp pain in the lower back when trying to bend or turn. Moreover, the pain syndrome does not disappear in a calm state and becomes more intense when the muscle is probed.
With myositis of the neck muscles, the patient can not turn or tilt his head. For this reason, he turns around with his whole body. The pain syndrome is mainly unilateral, but can affect not only the neck, but can irradiate to the head, ear, shoulder, scapula.
Diagnosis of myositis
Myositis can be suspected by a doctor based on symptoms such as muscle weakness, pain, and other signs characteristic of this condition. The following methods are used to diagnose the disease:
- Blood tests;
- Magnetic resonance imaging;
- Electromyography;
- Muscle biopsy.
Muscle weakness and pain can also be caused by other conditions that are more common than myositis. Therefore, the exact diagnosis may not be established immediately, but after additional examinations.
Treatment of myositis
Treatment of myositis is carried out mainly by conservative methods. Surgical intervention is indicated only in purulent forms of the disease.
1. Conservative treatment
The basis of treatment is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. In the severe course of the disease, hormonal (corticosteroid) agents may be used. Antimicrobial drugs are prescribed only when the causative role of microorganisms, protozoa or helminths is proven. Vitamin and myotropic drugs may be used in complex therapy.
Electromyographic study is performed to assess the effectiveness of therapy in the dynamics.
2. Surgical treatment
Surgery is performed in purulent myositis, which is caused by the penetration of bacterial flora into the muscle structures. Surgical intervention is performed under adequate anesthesia and consists of several stages:
- Incision and providing access to the purulent focus.
- Removal of purulent-necrotic masses.
- Irrigation of the inflamed cavity with antiseptic solutions.
- Installation of drainage, if necessary to provide additional outflow of wound discharge.
Prevention
Prevention of myositis includes nonspecific measures:
- timely treatment of chronic infections;
- adequate correction of the causative pathology;
- replacement of intramuscular injections with oral (taken orally) dosage forms of the drug;
- use of protective equipment when engaging in trauma-prone activities;
- use of tapes and other fixators in monotonous work.
Conclusion
Myositis is an inflammation of the muscles that can develop for a variety of reasons, including infections, injuries, autoimmune diseases, and medication side effects. Symptoms of myositis, such as pain, weakness, swelling and restricted mobility, can significantly reduce quality of life and lead to complications if not treated promptly.
Diagnosis of the disease requires a comprehensive approach, including blood tests, MRI, electromyography and, in some cases, biopsy. Treatment is predominantly conservative and includes the use of anti-inflammatory and hormonal agents, as well as physical therapy. In the case of purulent forms of myositis, surgical intervention may be required.
Prevention of the disease includes timely treatment of chronic infections, protection in traumatic activities and correction of causative diseases. It is important to pay attention to the first signs of myositis and not delay consultation with a doctor to avoid the development of complications and preserve the quality of life.
