What Does Myopathy Feel Like?

There are over 600 named muscles in the human body, making up around 50% of the average person’s total weight. Myopathy is a general term for symptoms of diseases affecting some or many of these muscles.

Different types of myopathy have varying causes and symptoms, but muscle weakness is the most common feature. Some people also experience muscle pain, cramps, stiffness, or problems with physical activity.

At Memphis Neurology, we evaluate muscle symptoms to determine whether they come from the muscles themselves, the nerves that control them, or another medical condition. Understanding exactly how your symptoms feel and when they occur gives us important clues.

What does muscle weakness from myopathy feel like?

Myopathy often causes true muscle weakness rather than simply making your muscles feel tired. You might notice that activities you once performed easily now require more effort.

Many myopathies affect the proximal muscles — those closest to the center of your body. These include the muscles around your hips, thighs, shoulders, and upper arms.

You might have trouble:

• Getting up from a low chair
• Climbing stairs
• Getting out of a car
• Raising your arms above your head
• Washing or brushing your hair
• Carrying groceries
• Standing up after crouching or kneeling

The weakness may affect both sides of your body in a similar way. Depending on the type of myopathy, symptoms can develop quickly, over several weeks or months, or very gradually over years.

Does myopathy always cause muscle pain?

Muscle pain doesn't occur with every type of myopathy. In fact, some people have significant muscle weakness with little to no pain.

When pain does occur, you may experience:

• Aching
• Tenderness
• Cramps
• Stiffness
• Muscle spasms

Your muscles might also feel unusually heavy during activity. Some metabolic myopathies can cause exercise intolerance, meaning physical activity quickly triggers muscle fatigue, pain, and/or cramping.

Because many conditions can cause muscle aches, pain alone doesn't necessarily point to myopathy. We pay particular attention when pain occurs alongside persistent or progressive weakness.

Is myopathy different from nerve damage?

Myopathy affects muscle tissue, while neuropathy affects nerves. The symptoms can sometimes seem similar; for example, either can make walking or using your hands difficult.

Myopathy usually causes weakness without prominent sensory symptoms. Nerve disorders more commonly cause numbness, tingling, burning, or electric-shock sensations.

In some neuromuscular disorders, these symptoms can overlap. A neurological examination can help us identify whether the problem primarily involves your muscles, nerves, spinal cord, brain, or the connections between your nerves and muscles.

Can myopathy affect swallowing and breathing?

Certain myopathies can weaken muscles beyond your arms and legs. For example, inflammatory myopathies may affect the muscles involved in swallowing. You might cough or choke while eating, feel as though food gets stuck in your throat, or struggle with certain foods and drinks.

Severe muscle disease can sometimes affect the muscles of breathing as well. Seek prompt medical attention if muscle weakness occurs alongside new difficulty breathing or swallowing.

What causes myopathy?

Myopathy doesn't describe a single disease. Instead, it includes a large group of muscle disorders. In some cases, it’s difficult to identify a specific cause. The most likely myopathy triggers include:

• Inherited genetic conditions
• Autoimmune inflammation
• Thyroid and other hormonal disorders
• Metabolic conditions
• Electrolyte abnormalities
• Infections
• Certain medications and toxins
• Long-term corticosteroid use
• Some cholesterol-lowering medications

Medication-related muscle symptoms don't automatically mean you should stop taking a prescribed drug. For instance, in some cases, not taking the recommended dose of statins or discontinuing their use can lead to myopathy.

If you develop new muscle pain or weakness after starting medication, discuss it with us first.

How do we diagnose myopathy?

At Memphis Neurology, we start by asking:

• When your symptoms began
• Which muscles do they affect
• How quickly they’ve changed
• Whether exercise makes them better or worse

We also review your medications, medical history, and family history.

Depending on your symptoms, diagnostic testing may include blood tests measuring creatine kinase (CK), a muscle enzyme that can rise when muscle tissue is damaged.

We may also recommend:

• Electromyography (EMG)
• Nerve conduction studies
• Genetic testing
• Muscle imaging
• A muscle biopsy

Occasional muscle soreness after exercise usually doesn't suggest myopathy. Persistent or unexplained weakness warrants more attention, especially when it begins to interfere with normal activities.

Consider a neurological evaluation if you're increasingly struggling to climb stairs, rise from a chair, lift your arms, walk normally, or complete tasks that previously felt easy. Early evaluation helps identify the source of your symptoms and guide appropriate treatment.

If you're experiencing unexplained or progressive muscle weakness, contact Memphis Neurology by phone or online to schedule an evaluation and find out if you have myopathy.