1. Understand the Symptoms
Myositis, in the most general sense of the word, means a swelling of your muscles--something that most people have experienced after an injury or overdoing it at the gym. A more serious definition of this medical condition is a chronic inflammation that can leave you feeling weak and overly fatigued over a period of time, usually a few weeks. Your joints might ache, and you'll discover you have trouble getting out of a chair or moving around. This is because of a loss of muscle mass.
There are different types of myositis that have very specific symptoms in addition to muscle weakness and fatigue. Your doctor may identify your condition as dermatomyositis from a reddish or purplish rash on areas of your face, chest, back or elbows. Difficulty in swallowing may point to a different form of the disease called polymyositis.
2. Give Blood Samples
Blood tests are used to diagnose myositis, and can tell doctors which type of the inflammatory myopathy you have. You will be checked for muscle enzyme levels that are higher than normal, and for antibodies that are known to be associated with myositis.
3. Have Muscle Biopsies Taken
Your doctor will order a muscle biopsy (in which a small sample of your muscle tissue will be removed from the affected area) in an effort to identify myositis as the cause of your medical problems. Studying the muscle tissue will reveal abnormalities, such as inflammation and proteins that are not usually seen in healthy people.
4. See Inflammation Through Imaging Tests
Further diagnostic testing may be done, depending on the severity of your symptoms, to allow your medical providers to see the inflammation you are experiencing and to watch how your muscles respond to stimuli. Diagnostic tools used for this purpose may include an MRI or an electromyography study (EMG).
