- The main warning
sign is muscle weakness. Usually the first muscles
affected are in the hips and thighs, though any
other muscle in the body can be affected.
- It may be
hard to climb stairs, get dressed or get out of bed.
- Pain in the joints
between bones. However, the joints are usually not
warm or swollen, as with some other forms of
arthritis.
- Deep red (almost
purple) rash, usually on the face, scalp, neck and
chest. However, the rash can appear on any part of
the body.
- Coughing and
shortness of breath.
· It may also be hard to swallow.
Muscle weakness and pain
Usually, the main symptom of polymyositis is muscle
weakness. At the onset of the disease it generally
affects the thighs and hips. If you have polymyositis,
you may have difficulty climbing stairs, getting off
buses with high steps or rising from low surfaces. The
distance you are able to walk may eventually be limited
because your muscles get too tired.
If your shoulders are
involved, you may have trouble getting dressed, combing
your hair or lifting heavy objects. If polymyositis
affects your neck, chest and abdomen
muscles it may be
hard to lift your head from a pillow or get out of bed. Polymyositis can also cause you to have trouble
swallowing or talking, though these are less
common
results of the disease.
At the start of the disease your muscles may feel sore
and tender. Many people do not experience muscle pain;
it occurs particularly in people with rapidly
progressing disease.
The muscle pain and tenderness
usually goes away with treatment. After having the
disease for a long period of time you may lose muscle
bulk overall and the affected muscles
may appear thin
and ‘wasted.’
