Living with Acquired idiopathic inflammatory myopathy
A group of muscle conditions that cause weakness, joint pain, and tiredness, with an unknown cause.
Understanding Acquired idiopathic inflammatory myopathy
Symptoms include muscle weakness, joint pain, and fatigue. The forms include polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and sporadic inclusion body myositis, each with its own features. Idiopathic means the cause is currently unknown.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD's summary lists these:
- Muscle weakness
- Joint pain
- Fatigue
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include autoimmune and inflammatory disease specialists and brain and nervous system specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Myositis Support and Understanding and The Myositis Association may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- autoimmune and inflammatory disease specialists (rheumatologists); Brain and nervous system specialists (neurologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Myositis Support and Understanding, The Myositis Association
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Myositis Support and Understanding and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
The cause is currently unknown, which is what idiopathic means.
Also known as: idiopathic inflammatory myopathies; iim; imm
Patient organizations
- Myositis Support and UnderstandingAcquired idiopathic inflammatory myopathy · United States
- The Myositis AssociationAcquired idiopathic inflammatory myopathy · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Acquired idiopathic inflammatory myopathy.
Explore research for Acquired idiopathic inflammatory myopathy
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