Polymyositis & Dermatomyositis Support Group

Polymyositis (PM) is a type of chronic inflammation of the muscles (inflammatory myopathy) related to dermatomyositis and inclusion body myositis. The inflammation is predominantly of the endomysium in polymyositis, whereas dermatomyositis is characterized by primarily perimysial inflammation.

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angelamichelle 05/19/2014

my friends mother has been having muscle weakness and pain in only one leg...could this be like PM or DM? they checked for MS and that came back normal. she is going to be seeing a numerologist soon. Have you or do you know anyone who has had this or a similar situation?
thanks :)

nanny1611 05/19/2014

I'm not a doctor, but I think that myositis always affects both sides. However, I think that Myasthenia Gravis can affect just one side--but I'm not positive. My only other thought is whether she was checked for ALS, because I believe that can affect one limb or hand. Again, not being a doctor, I'm only throwing out random thoughts and trying to recall things that I've read in the past.

trpt1 05/19/2014

Hi Angelamic, the doctor will determine whether the muscle weakness and pain is caused by nerves or by the muscles. If your friends mom has electrical zaps too, then it may be nerve connections. The doctors will be able to sort this out. Blood work is also helpful for finding clues too.

angelamichelle 05/21/2014

thanks :) im just worried and i know sometimes people can go a long time without a diagnosis so i wanna help as much as i can :)

joyforalifetime 05/21/2014

hi there! i have DM and as far as i can remember i had numbness/tingling in only my left thigh. does she have other symptoms? hope it turns out well! i lost my mom to MS. i'm glad that's not what she has :)

angelamichelle 05/22/2014

im so sorry to here about your mom :(

mccourtjs 05/22/2014

I have more pain and weakness in my left leg and arm

Buttercup-Kitty 05/23/2014

Meow,

My PM showed up by my having trouble walking up stairs, and going off curbs. Also, I started falling down. And when down, I couldn't get up. Became unable to pull myself out of deep chairs, chairs w/o arms, and up ladders.

Saw a rheumatologist, had a CBC that included a CPK (probably the one that measurers damage to skeletal muscles), it showed 6600. Didn't get a steroid until I had the muscle biopsy. I was told I was full of Poly. So.

I have never been to a neurologist. Just my rheumy. He is now my best friend (on a professional basis).

As a patient, I recommend a complete CBC from a doc that has experience with PM. Mine has, and we work together to keep a leash on Poly as best we can. Ultimately the biopsy was the confirming test.

Good Luck getting the correct diagnosis.

Purr,
=^.,.^=

autumm 05/23/2014

Hi Buttercup. Good to hear from you. Over here Rheumatologists treat PM/DM and neurologists treat IBM. You are fine with your rheumatologist who sounds just great. Autumm

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