Muscle conditions in women
Your muscles move and steady your body. Autoimmune muscle disease shows up as true weakness, not just soreness.
Conditions that affect your muscles 8
Autoimmune and chronic conditions that can involve your muscles. Each guide covers early signs, labs to ask about, and when to see a doctor.
Dermatomyositis & myositis
AutoimmuneAutoimmune conditions in which the immune system inflames the muscles, causing weakness. Dermatomyositis also causes a distinctive rash.
Fatigue and chronic fatigue
ChronicOngoing exhaustion that limits daily life. It can come from a treatable cause, or it can be ME/CFS, a serious illness in which effort makes symptoms worse.
Myasthenia gravis
AutoimmuneAntibodies block the signal between nerves and muscles, causing weakness that gets worse with use and improves with rest.
Polymyalgia rheumatica
AutoimmuneAn immune-mediated inflammatory condition that causes pain and stiffness in the shoulders, neck, and hips, almost always after age 50.
Osteoarthritis
ChronicThe most common type of arthritis. The cartilage that cushions the ends of bones breaks down over time, causing pain and stiffness, most often in the knees, hips, hands, and spine.
Rheumatologic conditions
ChronicRheumatology covers conditions of the joints, muscles, bones, and connective tissue, and many of them are autoimmune. This overview explains how inflammatory joint pain differs from mechanical pain, and where to read about specific conditions.
Mixed connective tissue disease
AutoimmuneAn overlap condition with features of lupus, scleroderma, and myositis, marked by high levels of an antibody called anti-U1 RNP.
Chronic infections
ChronicOngoing symptoms that follow or are linked to an infection or exposure. Some links are well established, and others are still debated.
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Signs worth getting checked
- Trouble climbing stairs, rising from a chair, or lifting your arms overhead
- Weakness that gets worse the more you use a muscle
- Drooping eyelids or double vision
- Muscle pain with dark, tea-colored urine (get same-day care)
Ingredients that affect your muscles
Vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other supplements commonly used for the muscles. Each one links to its full guide.
About your muscles
What it does
Muscles contract when a nerve releases a chemical signal at the point where nerve meets muscle. Muscle also stores energy, helps regulate blood sugar, and protects your bones and joints.
Common issues
- Tension and knots from stress and posture
- Cramps from low magnesium or dehydration
- Aches with low vitamin D or thyroid problems
- Muscle pain as a side effect of statins
- Fibromyalgia
Wondering if your symptoms fit a pattern?
Dr. Lesher is a naturopathic doctor who specializes in women's autoimmune and chronic conditions. Since 2020, she has helped more than 900 patients overcome and heal from their conditions.