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Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes the immune system to attack the body's own tissue, including muscles, joints, and connective tissue. This can cause pain and inflammation, leading to muscle weakness. Over half of people with lupus experience muscle pain and weakness, especially during flare-ups. Lupus myositis, the inflammation of skeletal muscles, can cause weakness and loss of muscle strength, particularly in the neck, shoulders, arms, upper pelvis, and thighs. Certain medications used to treat lupus, such as prednisone and other corticosteroids, can also cause muscle weakness as a side effect.
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What You'll Learn
Lupus is an autoimmune disease
Lupus, or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disease. This means that lupus is a disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own tissues and organs. In lupus, the immune system attacks healthy tissue, causing damage to many parts of the body. This can include the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, and blood cells.
The cause of lupus is unknown, but researchers believe that certain factors may trigger the immune system, causing the disease. These factors include genes, the environment, and immune and inflammatory influences. For example, exposure to sunlight, certain medications, viral infections, and smoking may trigger lupus. Lupus is also more common in certain demographic groups, including women, African Americans, Asian Americans, and people aged 15 to 45.
The symptoms of lupus vary from person to person and can range from mild to severe. Typical signs of lupus include a butterfly-shaped rash over the cheeks and nose, fever, fatigue, and muscle pain and weakness. Over half of people with lupus report muscle pain and/or weakness, which may be caused by inflammation or side effects of medication. While there is no cure for lupus, treatments can help control symptoms. Many people with lupus require medication for a long time, and in the US, SLE is one of the top 20 leading causes of death in females aged 5 to 64.
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Inflammation and muscle atrophy cause weakness
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means the body's immune system attacks its own tissues, including muscles, joints, and connective tissue. This immune response causes inflammation and swelling, which can lead to muscle pain and weakness. This condition, known as myositis, involves inflammation of the skeletal muscles, resulting in muscle weakness. Myositis affects the muscles in the neck, shoulders, arms, upper pelvis, and thighs, causing a loss of strength.
Inflammation is the body's natural defence mechanism against infections, cell damage, toxins, and other harmful stimuli. When cells are damaged, they release chemicals that increase blood flow to the affected area, causing swelling and redness. This process also leads to fluid leakage, contributing to the swelling. In the context of lupus, this inflammation of the muscles can result in muscle weakness.
Additionally, muscle atrophy, or the weakening and breakdown of muscle tissue, can occur in people with lupus. This atrophy further contributes to the overall muscle weakness experienced by individuals with the disease. The combination of inflammation and muscle atrophy exacerbates the weakness and loss of muscle strength associated with lupus.
The impact of lupus on muscle weakness can vary in severity and specific muscle groups affected. For some individuals, simple activities like rising from a chair, climbing stairs, or lifting arms become challenging due to the weakness caused by inflammation and atrophy. It is important to note that muscle weakness may also be a side effect of certain medications used to treat lupus, such as prednisone and other corticosteroids. Consulting a physician is crucial to determine the underlying cause of muscle weakness and receive appropriate treatment or medication adjustments.
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Myositis: inflammation of skeletal muscles
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means the immune system attacks the body's own tissues, including muscles, joints, and connective tissues. This can cause pain and inflammation, which more than half of people with lupus experience. Lupus can also cause muscle weakness, which can be a side effect of the disease itself or of the medications used to treat it.
Myositis is a condition characterised by inflammation of the skeletal muscles, which results in weakness. Myositis can be caused by injury, infection, or an autoimmune disease like lupus. Many people with lupus also experience myositis, which can cause the muscles in the neck, shoulders, arms, upper pelvis, and thighs to weaken. In the early stages, this muscle weakness can make it difficult to rise from a chair or climb stairs. As the condition progresses, it can become challenging to perform everyday tasks such as combing hair, placing objects on a shelf, or getting out of a bathtub.
The inflammation associated with myositis is the body's natural immune response to infections, damage to cells, exposure to toxins, or other harmful stimuli. This response triggers the release of chemicals that increase blood flow to the affected area, causing swelling and redness. The chemicals also cause fluid to leak into the area, contributing to further swelling. Myositis can lead to muscle pain (myalgia) and muscle weakness, which can significantly impact a person's ability to perform daily activities.
Treatment for myositis varies depending on its location and underlying cause. Doctors often refer patients with lupus and myositis to rheumatologists, who specialise in treating conditions affecting the joints, muscles, tendons, bones, and connective tissues. Rheumatologists can help determine the underlying causes of lupus symptoms and provide appropriate treatment options. It is important for individuals experiencing muscle weakness or other symptoms to consult with their physicians, as they can adjust medications or recommend specific treatments to manage the condition effectively.
In summary, lupus can cause muscle weakness through the disease itself or as a side effect of medications. Myositis, an inflammation of the skeletal muscles, is a common condition associated with lupus that contributes to muscle weakness and pain. Treatment for myositis varies depending on its underlying causes and location, and rheumatologists play a crucial role in diagnosing and treating lupus-related myositis.
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Medication side effects
While lupus can cause muscle weakness, certain medications used to treat lupus can also cause muscle weakness as a side effect. These medications include prednisone and other corticosteroids, drugs to lower cholesterol, and hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil).
Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, are used to reduce inflammation and can be administered through steroid creams, tablets, or injections into a muscle or vein. However, long-term use of high doses of steroids can lead to bone-thinning conditions like osteoporosis and avascular necrosis (AVN). AVN is a condition where there is a loss of blood supply to the bone, resulting in bone damage. Symptoms of AVN include pain in the hips, knees, or shoulders, followed by stiffness, muscle spasms, and limited movement in the affected joints.
Other medications used to treat lupus may also have side effects. For example, people taking DMARDs or biological therapy are more prone to infections and should avoid contact with people with infectious diseases. Additionally, long-term use of steroids can cause problems with the kidneys, and they may not be suitable for individuals with a history of kidney disease. To mitigate these side effects, doctors may prescribe additional medications, such as calcium, vitamin D tablets, or drugs called bisphosphonates, to protect against osteoporosis.
It is important to consult with a physician before making any changes to your medication. Your doctor can review your medications, determine the underlying cause of your muscle weakness, and adjust your medication accordingly. They may also recommend physical therapy or an exercise program to help strengthen your muscles and improve your overall well-being.
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Lupus can cause tendonitis and bursitis
Lupus is a disease that affects the muscles, joints, and organs. It causes muscle pain and weakness, which is often a side effect of the medications used to treat the disease. Over half of people with lupus experience muscle pain and/or weakness.
Lupus can cause tendonitis, which is inflammation of the tendons—the tissues that connect muscles to bones. Tendonitis triggers pain and stiffness in the joints, most commonly in the fingers, elbows, shoulders, and heels. Lupus can also cause tenosynovitis, which is inflammation of the lubricating sheath that surrounds some tendons, helping them to glide smoothly and stay in place. Tenosynovitis can lead to a condition called "trigger finger," where the affected person needs to use their other hand to straighten their finger.
Lupus can also cause bursitis, which is inflammation of the bursae—the fluid-filled sacs that lubricate the tissues and bones that move the joints. This is most likely to occur in the elbows, shoulders, and fingers. In rare cases, lupus can cause scapulothoracic bursitis, which is inflammation of the scapulothoracic bursa, the structure that allows for various types of motions at the shoulder joint.
The main treatment for muscle and joint pain caused by lupus is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or naproxen sodium. Joint rest and physical therapy can also help ease the pain caused by tendonitis. If these treatments are ineffective, a doctor may prescribe a low dose of prednisone, a steroid.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, lupus can cause muscle weakness. This is due to inflammation of the skeletal muscles, known as myositis, which results in weakness and loss of muscle strength.
Lupus can cause weakness in the muscles of the neck, shoulders, arms, upper pelvis, and thighs.
In the early stages, muscle weakness can make it difficult to rise from a chair or climb stairs. As the condition progresses, it may become hard to lift your arms to comb or brush your hair, place objects on a shelf, or get out of a bathtub.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means the body's immune system attacks its own tissue, including muscles, joints, and connective tissue. This can cause inflammation and pain in these areas, leading to muscle weakness.
Treatment for muscle weakness in people with lupus should be tailored to the individual and will depend on the location and underlying cause of the weakness. Doctors often refer patients with lupus to rheumatologists, who specialise in treating conditions affecting the joints, muscles, tendons, bones, and connective tissues.
