Muscle weakness (patient information): Difference between revisions
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===Primary muscular diseases=== | ===Primary muscular diseases=== | ||
* | *Becker muscular dystrophy | ||
*[[Dermatomyositis (patient information)|Dermatomyositis]] | *[[Dermatomyositis (patient information)|Dermatomyositis]] | ||
*[[Duchenne muscular dystrophy (patient information)|Muscular dystrophy (Duchenne)]] | *[[Duchenne muscular dystrophy (patient information)|Muscular dystrophy (Duchenne)]] | ||
| Line 41: | Line 41: | ||
*[[Botulism (patient information)|Botulism]] | *[[Botulism (patient information)|Botulism]] | ||
* | *Organophosphate poisoning (insecticides, nerve gas) | ||
*Paralytic shellfish poisoning | *Paralytic shellfish poisoning | ||
| Line 71: | Line 71: | ||
*Quality | *Quality | ||
**Is the weakness constant or does it come and go, sometimes | **Is the weakness constant or does it come and go, sometimes affecting different parts of your body? | ||
**Does the weakness affect breathing? | **Does the weakness affect breathing? | ||
**Does it affect talking, chewing, or swallowing? | **Does it affect talking, chewing, or swallowing? | ||
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*Nerve conduction studies | *Nerve conduction studies | ||
*Thyroid function tests | *Thyroid function tests | ||
*Urinalysis | *[[Urinalysis]] | ||
==Treatment options== | ==Treatment options== | ||
Treatment varies with the cause of weakness. | Treatment varies with the cause of weakness. | ||
[[Physiotherapy]] may be advised to strengthen the muscles. | |||
==Where to find medical care for Muscle weakness?== | ==Where to find medical care for Muscle weakness?== | ||
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==Possible complications== | ==Possible complications== | ||
Depending on the cause for weakness, following complications may be seen: | Depending on the cause for weakness, following complications may be seen: | ||
*Paraparesis | *[[Paraparesis]] | ||
*Respiratory arrest | *[[Respiratory arrest]] | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003174.htm | http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003174.htm | ||
{{WH}} | |||
{{WS}} | |||
[[Category:Disease]] | [[Category:Disease]] | ||
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[[Category:Geriatrics]] | [[Category:Geriatrics]] | ||
[[Category:Genetic disorders]] | [[Category:Genetic disorders]] | ||
[[Category:Immunology]] | [[Category:Immunology]] | ||
[[Category:Metabolic disorders]] | [[Category:Metabolic disorders]] | ||
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[[Category:Orthopedics]] | [[Category:Orthopedics]] | ||
[[Category:Rheumatology]] | [[Category:Rheumatology]] | ||
[[Category:Muscular system]] | [[Category:Muscular system]] | ||
[[Category:Patient information]] | [[Category:Patient information]] | ||
Latest revision as of 22:48, 29 July 2020
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Muscle weakness |
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Muscle weakness On the Web |
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For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S.
Overview
Weakness is a reduction in the strength of one or more muscles.
What are the symptoms of Muscle weakness?
Inability to carry out normal daily activities
What causes Muscle weakness?
Measurable weakness may result from a variety of conditions including metabolic, neurologic, primary muscular diseases, and toxic disorders.
Metabolic
- Addison's disease
- Hyperparathyroidism
- Low sodium or potassium
- Thyrotoxicosis
Neurologic
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Bell's palsy
- Cerebral palsy
- Guillain-Barre syndrome
- Multiple sclerosis
- Pinched nerve (for example, caused by a slipped disk in the spine)
- Stroke
Primary muscular diseases
- Becker muscular dystrophy
- Dermatomyositis
- Muscular dystrophy (Duchenne)
- Myotonic dystrophy
Toxic
- Botulism
- Organophosphate poisoning (insecticides, nerve gas)
- Paralytic shellfish poisoning
Other
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your doctor if you have:
- Prolonged, unexplained weakness
- Sudden weakness, particularly when it is in one area and not accompanied by other complaints, such as fever
- Sudden weakness following a viral illness
- Weakness in one area of the body
Diagnosis
The doctor will examine you and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, such as:
- Time pattern
- When did the weakness begin?
- Did it begin with an illness or injury?
- Did it occur suddenly or gradually?
- Is the weakness worse in the morning or at night?
- Is the weakness noticed only after strenuous activity or exercise?
- Did it start following a typical viral illness, such as a cold?
- Did it start after a vaccination?
- Quality
- Is the weakness constant or does it come and go, sometimes affecting different parts of your body?
- Does the weakness affect breathing?
- Does it affect talking, chewing, or swallowing?
- Does it affect walking, climbing stairs, sitting, getting up?
- Does it affect use of the hands, arms, or shoulders?
- Is there pain with the weakness?
- Is there numbness or tingling with the weakness?
- Location
- Is the weakness limited to a specific area?
- Has the area of weakness increased or decreased?
- Aggravating factors
- What makes the weakness worse?
- Physical activity
- Rest
- Hunger
- Fatigue
- Pain
- Stress
- What makes the weakness worse?
- Relieving factors
- Does anything help relieve the weakness?
- Rest
- Eating
- Pain relief
- Does anything help relieve the weakness?
- Other symptoms
- What other symptoms do you have?
- Fever
- Injury
- Pain
- Numbness or tingling
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Weight loss
- Headaches
- Changes in vision
- Change in skin color or temperature of the area affected
- Change in mental state, alertness, or responsiveness
- What other symptoms do you have?
- Additional important information
- What medications do you take?
- Do you have any allergies?
Physical examination may include special attention paid to examination of heart, lungs, and thyroid gland. If there is a local area of weakness, the examination will focus on the nerve and muscle functions.
Diagnostic tests that may be done include:
- Blood tests for autoimmune disorders
- Blood tests such as a CBC and electrolytes
- Lumbar puncture (CSF collection)
- MRI or CT scan of your head and spine
- Muscle biopsy
- Nerve conduction studies
- Thyroid function tests
- Urinalysis
Treatment options
Treatment varies with the cause of weakness.
Physiotherapy may be advised to strengthen the muscles.
Where to find medical care for Muscle weakness?
Directions to Hospitals Treating Muscle weakness
Possible complications
Depending on the cause for weakness, following complications may be seen:
Sources
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003174.htm Template:WH Template:WS