What are the symptoms of polymyositis and dermatomyositis?
Polymyositis affects mainly the large muscles of the body, such as those around the shoulders, hips and thighs. If you suffer from it you may have difficulty climbing stairs, getting up from low chairs, and getting in and out of the bath. Your muscles may feel weak and very tired, so that tasks that are normally easy are now exhausting for you. You may also feel pain in your muscles, known as myalgia, and your inflamed muscles may be tender to the touch. People with polymyositis may feel generally unwell (malaise) and have weight loss or night sweats.
