Polymyositis and Its Homeopathic Treatment
Polymyositis is a chronic and difficult disease condition calling for long-term planning treatment. As the name suggests, it is poly=many, myco=muscles, sitis=inflammation. That is, a disease condition where many muscles get inflamed. It is similar to another condition called dermatomyositis, where skin is also involved.
Symptoms of Polymyositis:
Females are affected more than men. Usually, it starts after around 18 years. Patients present with muscular weakness in the legs, spreading to upper limbs and then eventually to entire body. There is a sense of tiredness or fatigue, due to muscle involvement. Patients also complain of painful body movement due to inflammation of muscles. Increasing difficulty in getting up, running, climbing staircase, and eventually day to day activities, forms a major symptom of this disease.
Polymyositis is a progressive condition, where more and more groups of muscles tend to get involved, leading to restricted mobility and increasing painfulness. It does not have a tendency to go into natural remission, as recorded in the cases at Life force.
Polymyositis is not a common disease, fortunately.
Causes of Polymyositis:
The exact cause behind Polymyositis is not yet known. However, it falls in the category of auto-immune disease. It is also suspected to have some genetic links. Certain infections such as virus, parasites (protozoa), Lyme disease, etc. might trigger Polymyositis.
Recent studies indicated involvement of certain immunological parameter such as some cytokines (IFN-gamma) and IL 2, etc. which are released after microvascular muscle injury.That, in turn, lead to activation of some other cytokines such as TNF-alpha, which is also responsible for continued and recurring inflammation of the muscles. All in all, polymyositis is a multifactorial disorder, where genetic, immunological and other factors are involved. Homeopathic treatment tries to address multiple factors and bring about control of the disease processes as well relief in the symptoms.
How is Polymyositis diagnosed?
Clinical diagnosis supported by one or more of the following investigations would help to confirm the diagnosis of Polymyositis:
- High blood levels certain enzyme called CPK (Creatine Phospho-Kinase)
- Muscle biopsy
- Electromyogram
Treatment of Polymyositis:
a Conventional treatment: There is hardly any treatment except the use of cortisone and immunosuppressive medicines used conventionally. Also, physiotherapy and such supportive measures are useful.
Homeopathic treatment for Polymyositis:
Experience suggests that homeopathy has reasonably good treatment to offer for Polymyositis, which works at two levels:
1 Controls further progress of disease
2Improves the symptoms of pain, fatigue and mobility
Cases treated at Life Force are suggestive of definite contribution in the treatment of Polymyositis, where patients have documented improvement without use of cortisone. Homeopathy may not cure the Polymyositis but even if improvement as stated above is considered significant for a disease such as this. Homeopathy is strongly suggested for Polymyositis.