What causes muscle weakness and pain in the forearm and hip?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 41 year old male. My creatine phosphokinase is mildly elevated. The reports came as 220 twice and as normal thrice. And, there was hemoglobin in my urine test. I constantly have muscle weakness and mild pain on my left side, at the forearm and hip. The weakness started suddenly or probably it was so slow that I did not feel any change during these four years. The symptoms started one day morning when I was 37. I feel the weakness much more in the mornings rather than at nights. What disease could this be?

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I read your query and understand your concerns about muscle weakness and raised muscle enzymes. The probable diagnosis is polymyositis. People with polymyositis have:

1) A weakness of muscles of the thigh, gluteal muscles, and shoulder girdle.

2) Raised CPK (creatine phosphokinase) and LDH (lactate dehydrogenase).

3) An abnormal EMG (electromyogram).

4) Abnormal muscle biopsy.

The presence of all four makes it a definite diagnosis of polymyositis. I suggest you go for an EMG (electromyography) so that we get clarity.

Thank you.