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Muscle weakness
Multiple bruises of different ages
Muscle cramps or spasms (painful)
Muscle stiffness (rigidity)
Muscle twitching (painless)
Muscle wasting
Muscle weakness
What is muscle weakness?
Muscle weakness, or myasthenia, is a decrease in strength in one or more muscles. It is a common symptom of muscular, neurological and metabolic disorders.

What other symptoms might occur with muscle weakness?
Muscle weakness may accompany other symptoms, which vary depending on the underlying disease, disorder or condition. Symptoms that frequently affect the muscles may also involve other body systems.

Muscular symptoms that may occur along with muscle weakness Muscle weakness may accompany other symptoms affecting the muscles including:

Burning feeling
Loss of muscle coordination
Muscle spasms
Pain
Paralysis
Pins-and-needles (prickling) sensation
Twitching
Other symptoms that may occur along with muscle weakness

Muscle weakness may accompany symptoms that are related to other body systems including:

Blurred or double vision
Diarrhea
Fainting or change in level of consciousness or lethargy
Fatigue
Fever
Gradual difficulty walking and speaking, memory loss
Headache
Nausea with or without vomiting
Numbness or tingling in the arms or legs
Symptoms of hyperthyroidism, such as protruding eyes, unexplained weight loss, heat intolerance, perspiration, and goiter
Symptoms of multiple sclerosis, such as weakness, numbness or tingling, vision problems, unsteady walk, fatigue, and depression
Unexplained weight loss
Serious symptoms that might indicate a life-threatening condition
In some cases, muscle weakness can be life threatening, especially if it occurs suddenly and on one side of the body. Seek immediate medical care (call _________) if you, or someone you are with, have any of these life-threatening sudden symptoms including:

Change in level of consciousness or alertness, such as passing out or unresponsiveness
Paralysis or inability to move a body part
Severe abdominal cramps
Sudden change in vision, loss of vision, or eye pain
Worst headache of your life

Muscular diseases, such as muscular dystrophy and dermatomyositis (disorder characterized by muscle inflammation), are common causes of muscle weakness. Other common causes include neurological disorders, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome (an autoimmune nerve disorder), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), stroke, and even a pinched nerve. The autoimmune neuromuscular disorder known as myasthenia gravis is accompanied by muscle weakness along with drooping eyelids and double vision.

Metabolic disorders, such as Addison’s disease and hyperthyroidism, can lead to weakness in one muscle or a group of muscles. In rare cases, muscle weakness may be a symptom of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (an inherited disorder affecting the peripheral nerves). Other possible causes of muscle weakness include paralytic shellfish poisoning, botulism, and low levels of potassium in the blood.

Depending on the cause, weakness may occur in one muscle, a group of muscles, or all the muscles, and it may be accompanied by pain, atrophy, cramping, or other types of muscular symptoms.

In some cases, muscle weakness that happens suddenly, especially on one side of the body, can be a sign of stroke. If it occurs along with severe abdominal pain, it may by a symptom of botulism. Seek immediate medical care (call 911) if you, or someone you are with, have serious symptoms, such as a sudden change in vision, confusion, loss of consciousness for even a brief moment, severe abdominal pain, severe headache, and paralysis or inability to move a body part.

What causes muscle weakness?
The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Muscle weakness. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

Muscle overuse
Infections
Flu
Fluid loss
Dehydration
Electrolyte imbalance
Muscle wasting - see causes of muscle atrophy
General or progressive muscle weakness causes include:
Muscular dystrophy
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Becker muscular dystrophy
Diabetes
Cushing's syndrome
Anemia
Thyroid disease
Hyperthyroidism
Hypothyroidism
Nerve disorders
Lupus
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Primary aldosteronism
Guillain-Barre disease
Myasthenia gravis
Food poisoning
Familial periodic paralysis
Medication overdose (type of Medical misadventure)
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Brain tumor
Cerebrovascular accident
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Herniated disk
Hypercortisolism
Multiple sclerosis
Osteoarthritis
Parkinson's disease
Peripheral nerve trauma (see Nerve symptoms)
Peripheral neuropathy
Potassium imbalance
Rheumatoid arthritis
Seizur disorder
Spinal trauma
Spinal disease
Prolonged immobilization
Motor neurone disease
Polyneuritis
Erb-Duchenne palsy
Distal muscular dystrophy (type of Muscular Dystrophy)
Dermatomyositis
Inclusion body myositis
Osteomalacia
Cushing syndrome
Botulism
Tick bite
Severe psychological stress
Syphilis
Sturge-Weber syndrome
Bartter syndrome
Eaton-Lambert syndrome

Muscle weakness is a decrease in muscle strength, and it can be caused by a neurologic, muscular or metabolic disorder. Neurologic disorders causing muscle weakness include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease), Guillain-Barre syndrome (an autoimmune nerve disorder), stroke, or even a pinched nerve.

Muscular disorders, such as muscular dystrophy and dermatomyositis, are also common causes of muscular weakness. Metabolic conditions that can lead to weakness include Addison’s disease, low sodium or potassium levels, and hyperparathyroidism. Ingestion of toxic substance, such as insecticides, nerve gas, or paralytic shellfish poisoning, can cause muscle or nerve damage along with muscle weakness. Muscle weakness can also result from blood disorders, such as anemia and low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).

Metabolic causes of muscle weakness
Muscle weakness may have metabolic causes including:

Addison’s disease (deceased production of hormones by the adrenal glands)
Hyperparathroidism (overactive parathyroid glands)
Hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid)
Hypokalemia (low potassium)
Hyponatremia (low sodium)
Neurological causes of muscle weakness
Muscle weakness may have neurological causes including:

Bell’s palsy (swollen or inflamed nerve that controls facial muscles)
Cerebral palsy (group of conditions affecting the brain and nervous system functions)
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (inherited disorder affecting the peripheral nerves)
Guillain-Barre syndrome (autoimmune nerve disorder)
Multiple sclerosis (disease that affects the brain and spinal cord, causing weakness, coordination and balance difficulties, and other problems)
Nerve entrapment or compression, such as of the ulnar nerve in the arm Stroke
Muscular disease causes of muscle weakness

Muscle weakness may have muscular disease causes including:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, a severe neuromuscular disease that causes muscle weakness and disability) Dermatomyositis (condition characterized by muscle inflammation and skin rash) Muscular dystrophy (inherited disorder that causes a progressive loss of muscle tissue and muscle weakness)

Toxic causes of muscle weakness
Muscle weakness may be due to toxins including:

Botulism (serious food poisoning caused by Clostridium botulinum bacterium) Insecticide ingestion
Nerve gas exposure
Paralytic shellfish poisoning
Other causes of muscle weakness
Muscle weakness may have other causes including:

Anemia (low red blood cell count)
Myasthenia gravis (autoimmune neuromuscular disorder that causes muscle weakness)
Overuse injury (overuse of a muscle)
Polymyositis (widespread inflammation and weakness of muscles)
Serious or life-threatening causes of muscle weakness
In some cases, muscle weakness may be a symptom of a serious or life-threatening condition that should be immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. These conditions include:

Botulism (serious food poisoning caused by Clostridium botulinum bacterium)
Stroke
Transient ischemic attack (temporary stroke-like symptoms that may be a warning sign of an impending stroke)
Questions for diagnosing the cause of muscle weakness
To diagnose your condition, your doctor or licensed health care practitioner will ask you several questions related to your muscle weakness including:

How long have you felt muscle weakness?
Where do you feel muscle weakness?
Do you have any other symptoms?
What medications are you taking?
What are the potential complications of muscle weakness?

Because muscle weakness can be due to serious diseases, failure to seek treatment can result in serious complications and permanent damage. Once the underlying cause is diagnosed, it is important for you to follow the treatment plan that you and your health care professional design specifically for you to reduce the risk of potential complications including:

Paralysis
Permanent loss of sensation
Permanent nerve damage (due to a pinched nerve), including paralysis
Spread of infection

What to Expect at Your Office VisitThe health care provider will examine you and ask questions about your medical history and symptoms, such as:

Time pattern
When did the weakness begin?
Did it begin with an illness or injury?
Did it occur suddenly or gradually?
Is the weakness worse in the morning or at night?
Do you notice the weakness only after strenuous activity or exercise?
Did it start after a viral illness, such as a cold?
Did it start after a vaccination?

Quality

Is the weakness constant or does it come and go, sometimes affecting different parts of your body?
Does the weakness affect your breathing?
Does it affect talking, chewing, or swallowing?
Does it affect walking, climbing stairs, sitting, or getting up?
Does it affect the use of your hands, arms, or shoulders?
Is there pain with the weakness?
Is there numbness or tingling with the weakness?

Location

Is the weakness limited to a specific area?
Has the area of weakness increased or decreased?
Factors that make the weakness worse
What makes the weakness worse?

Fatigue
Hunger
Pain
Physical activity
Rest
Stress
Relieving factors

Does anything help relieve the weakness?

Eating
Pain relief
Rest
Other symptoms

What other symptoms do you have?

Change in mental state, alertness, or responsiveness
Change in skin color or temperature of the affected area
Changes in vision
Diarrhea
Fever
Headaches
Injury
Numbness or tingling
Pain
Vomiting
Weight loss
Other important information

What medications do you take?
Do you have any allergies?
The physical examination may include special attention to your heart, lungs, and thyroid gland. If there is a local area of weakness, the examination will focus on the nerves and muscle.

Tests that may be done include:

Blood tests for autoimmune disorders
Blood tests such as a CBC and electrolytes
Lumbar puncture (CSF collection)
MRI or CT scan of your head and spine
Muscle biopsy
Nerve conduction studies
Thyroid function tests
Urinalysis

Causes of Muscle atrophy

Muscle atrophy: Decrease in size and bulk of muscle. See detailed information below for a list of 351 causes of Muscle atrophy,

http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/symptoms/muscle_atrophy/causes.htm

This section discusses 351 medical conditions causing Muscle atrophy. A simple discussion of these causes with additional information is below. Causes of Muscle atrophy:The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Muscle atrophy. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

Muscle injury
Bed rest
Immobility
Nerve injury
Neuropathy
Diabetic neuropathy
Alcoholic neuropathy
Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord
Diabetes - may cause neuropathy; also muscle loss from muscle breakdown due to hyperglycemia (the cause of ketones).
Rheumatoid arthritis
Motor neurone diseases
Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Chronic infection
Tuberculosis
Muscle disuse
Joint disuse - e.g. due to disease or injury
Arthritis
Joint injuries
Joint inflammation
Paralysis of limbs
Nerve entrapment
Damage to nerve supplying muscle
Spinal cord lesion
Primary muscle disease (myopathy)
Malnutrition
Alcoholism
Drug use
Cocaine
Medications
Statins
Penicillamine
Decreased appetite
Anorexia nervosa
Malignancy
Chronic disease
Viral infections
Glandular fever
Bacterial infections
Tuberculosis
Parasitic infections
Schistosomiasis
Endocrine disorders
Thyroid disease
Addison's Disease
Cushing's Disease
Herniated disk
Hypercortisolism
Burns
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Stroke
Spinal cord injury
Protein deficiency
Radiculopathy
Thyrotoxicosis
Peripheral nerve trauma (see Nerve symptoms)
Osteoarthritis
Parkinson's disease
Multiple sclerosis
Prolonged steroid therapy
Cerebrovascular accident
Parkinson disease
Peripheral neuropathy
Hypothyroidism
Malignant disease
Neglected diabetes mellitus
Undiagnosed diabetes mellitus
Hyperthyroidism
Malaria
Hookworm infestation
Chronic diarrhoea
Old age
Disuse of limb
Immobilized fractures
Vascular disease
Tourniquet paralysis
Surgical ligation of major vessel
Thrombosis of great vessel
Embolism of great vessel
Ischemia of motor nerves
Buerger's disease
Polyarteritis nodosa
Ischemic palsy
Volkmann's contracture
Soft tissue edema
Soft tissue hemorrhage
Polio
Syringomyelia
Haematomyelia
Intramedullary tumor
Intramedullary ependymoma
Intramedullary astrocytoma
Motor neurone disease
Syphilitic amyotrophy
Herpes zoster
Athermoatous disease
Meningovascular malformations
Spinal cord tumor
Lumbar spondylosis
Lumbar canal stenosis
Spinal tumor
Prolapsed lumbar intervertebral disc
Cervical spondylosis
Polymyositis
Dermatomyositis
Trichinosis
Toxoplasmosis
Virus infection
Coxsacki B virus
Duchenne's muscular dystrophy
Becker's muscular dystrophy
Fascioscapulohumeral
Limb girdle
Oculopharyngeal dystrophy
Myotonic dystrophy
Glycogen storage myopathy
Carnitine deficiency
Thyroid dysfunction
Adrenal dysfunction (see Adrenal gland symptoms)
Meniscal tear
Prolonged immobilization
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease
Sarcoidosis Steroid use