Question
QUESTION: Hi

My mother is currently in hospital as the wanted to do some tests because her body is always sore (specially her back and arms).  They found that she has arthritis in the muscles.  I am not sure if they gave an exact name. Another patient told her they knew someone who also had it and died.  She was so upset.  Can it happen that someone dies from it?

Regards
Debbie

ANSWER: Debbie,

I am not sure what condition you are referring to as there is not such condition as arthritis in the muscles. The word arthritis means joint inflammation. You can not have arthritis in your muscles.

Myositis is inflammation of the muscles. There are three major types of inflammatory muscle diseases polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and inclusion body myositis. None of these conditions are fatal and most respond well to therapy.

If you can come up with the specific diagnosis I can give you more information. You mother can relax. Unless she has some very rare disease that can cause muscle pain and inflammation then there is no need to worry about death from hear condition.

Rusty

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi

Thanks for taking the time to answer me.

She has rheumatoid arthritis.  She is scared that it affects her heart as apparantly it has something to do with the muscles.  Could you assist in telling if this is a serious sickness?

Regards
Debbie

Answer
Debbie,

Yes, this is a serious disease. It is not serious in that it is fatal. It is serious in that it is hard to manage and can lead to disability. Rheumatoid arthritis is more than arthritis. It is an autoimmune disease where your body not only attack joints but can attack organs as well. While it can effect the heart as well as other organs.

RA does raise your risk of heart attacks. Remember that his is just an increase in the risk and does not effect most RA patients. Knowing this is important so that you and your doctor can work together to prevent this from happening. It is important for RA patients to lower their other risk factors for heart disease such as managing their weight, cholesterol and blood pressure. An regular exercise to keep the heart strong is also important.

That she has pain in her muscles is not a sign that it is effecting her heart. While RA causes muscle main in many RA patients it is just causing pain. It seldom ever does damage to muscles as it does joints. In fact most muscle pain is caused by a transference of pain from the joints to the muscles and because swelling in the joints effects the ends of the muscles (tendons)which can lead to muscle pain and or weakness.

I wish your mom the best.

Rusty