Myopathy
A myopathy is a chronic muscle disease that causes muscular weakness, exercise intolerance and fatigue. The disease is caused when the body’s immune system attacks the muscles. Weakness is the most common symptom of myopathy. People with myopathy experience difficulty getting up from a chair, lifting objects or climbing steps.
Inflammatory myopathies include polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Both involve muscle inflammation and weakness, but patients with dermatomyositis experience a rash on the eyelids or knuckles as well.
Our rheumatologists can diagnosis myopathy after understanding a patient’s detailed medical history, performing a physical examination and blood tests. Once a diagnosis is made, our experts will recommend the best course of treatment.
Michael Feely, MD, a rheumatologist with a research interest in myositis, offers a unique clinic dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of various forms of myositis and inflammatory muscle disease.