Myositis treatment includes medications, physical therapy, lifestyle changes, and rest. This condition, involving muscle weakness and inflammation, can onset in people at a variety of ages and levels of physical condition, and usually requires a lifetime of management. Patients may benefit from a mixture of these treatment approaches, and the treatment usually changes over time as the patient's condition evolves. Care can be supervised by a medical specialist with experience in the management of muscle disorders or by a general practitioner.
In patients with myositis, two types medications can be beneficial. Immunosuppressive medications, the first type, combat an overactive immune system and limit the potential for further muscle damage. Patients may also benefit from corticosteroids. These medications may be used off and on for life to manage the disorder, with careful management to watch out for side effects like weight gain and increased susceptibility to infection. Over time, dosages may need to be adjusted, and patients can switch medications to address issues like the development of tolerance or unpleasant side effects.
Many myositis treatments integrate physical movement to develop muscle strength in the patient. Physical therapy can be used to provide patients with directed exercise with the goal of promoting stronger muscles and teaching patients to work within their limitations. Gentle exercise like swimming and walking can help patients stay fit, in addition to conditioning the muscles, limiting muscle loss and keeping the patient as strong as possible.
Lifestyle changes can also be beneficial. Rest may be recommended during myositis flareups to address pain and inflammation, and some patients also make dietary changes. These myositis treatments are intended to support the patient's overall physical health to keep the body in good condition. Making changes for life can require some adjustments, including multiple consultations with a doctor to develop lifestyle changes someone can actually stick to; a stress prevention program, for example, is not useful if the patient cannot adhere to it.
Patients with myositis are more prone to muscle strain and fatigue, and they must be careful about overexerting themselves. Myositis treatments can also include helping patients identify specific problems they encounter so they can work around or avoid them, such as requesting accommodations at work to limit muscle fatigue so the patient isn't too exhausted to do anything at home at the end of the work day. Some patients also benefit from assistive devices like wheelchairs to reduce muscle pain and tension.
