Physical weakness indicates muscle disease

Nerve doctors: A physical weakness may indicate a muscle disease

12/01/2012

Continuous physical weakness when lifting, carrying, running or grasping can indicate a muscle disease. The Professional Association of German Nervous Physicians (BVDN) refers to this. Those affected should not shy away from the path to the doctor.

Anyone who suffers from gripping or walking difficulties (unsteady gait) and gets tired quickly after exercise may be suffering from neurological muscle disease. Anyone who recognizes the symptoms mentioned should quickly visit his family doctor and be referred to a neurologist if other causes have been ruled out by the doctor.

Accurate diagnostics required
To identify the exact causes of a neurological muscle disease, patients should have the doctor perform an adequate diagnosis, as the Association of Neurologists reported. In order to rule out a lack of minerals and vitamins or a metabolic disorder, patients should explain to the attending physician exactly whether the symptoms after a „specific event occur“ or a chronic metabolic disease such as diabetes already exists.

Many potential causes of muscle weakness
The exact causes of muscle weakness are very different. Often it comes from unhealthy and wrong diets, infectious diseases, nerve and muscle inflammation or a preceding stroke. It is also possible since birth to existing muscle weaknesses or mental suffering. A „Muscle weakness must be examined in detail by a specialist neurologically“, so the doctors. The symptoms range from mild weakness to complete paralysis. (Sb)

Image: Dieter Schütz