How does lupus affect the muscles?
Lupus can affect the muscles in a number of ways. The commonest cause of muscle pain is related to arthritis in nearby joints and in this case treating the joints also helps the muscle pain. An infrequent but serious cause of muscle pain in lupus is direct inflammation of the muscles or myositis. Weakness is often more of a problem than pain in myositis, and this can be a serious problem if the muscles that control breathing and swallowing are affected. Myositis is diagnosed by a number of tests including blood tests, electrical testing of the muscles and a muscle biopsy where a small sample of muscle is taken, usually from the thigh. A less serious but more common muscle problem is a condition called fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia can occur in people both with and without lupus. It causes persistent pain in most muscles but tends to be centred around the shoulders and hips. It causes sleep disturbance and tender spots in the muscles can develop. The causes of fibromyalgia are unknown, but
