Muscle inflammation in the calf

The calf muscles can also be affected by muscle inflammation. Parts of the muscles that are close to the torso are quickly affected. Thighs and calves are therefore often affected.

With an initial myositis, a muscle weakness develops over a longer period of time, which can be accompanied by local pain. A feeling of muscle soreness may also occur without active use of the leg muscles. If there is additional swelling and redness in the calf, an inflammation is likely.

Patients are mainly affected by muscle weakness in everyday life. Simple everyday tasks such as climbing stairs become a torture in the event of severe muscle inflammation. Often the inflammation spreads symmetrically from the trunk.

Rarely only the legs are affected. A rare phenomenon in muscle inflammation is observed in the calf area. Protracted inflammatory processes lead to a “pseudohypertrophy” of the calf muscles.

The calf thickens as if a lot of muscle mass had been built up in a short time. However, the body effectively breaks down muscle and replaces it with connective and fatty tissue. The calf thus becomes larger, but the muscle strength decreases.

Muscle inflammation of the shoulder

The shoulder in particular is a frequently affected muscle area in inflammatory changes. It borders directly on the trunk muscles from which many inflammations originate. In most cases, both shoulders are affected symmetrically.The shoulder muscles not only play a role in movements of the shoulder towards the trunk, but also in rotations and lifting of the arm.

Affected patients often complain of muscle weakness with pain when trying to lift the arms. Protracted inflammation can also lead to the loss of muscle mass in the shoulder muscles, which is mainly replaced by fatty tissue. Together with the arm musculature, the shoulder area often requires physiotherapy to regenerate muscle strength after an inflammation.

Muscle inflammation of the chest muscles

In the case of an inflammation of the muscles in the chest, small hardened nodules can often be palpated. These are centres of inflammation. The inflammation in the breast muscles usually occurs symmetrically and can be acute or chronic.

Particularly when it is caused by pathogens, it often has an acute, painful but completely subsiding course. Many bacterial or viral pathogens are possible. Inflammations caused by parasites are extremely rare.

In the breast, the inflammation usually develops without a cause, i.e. idiopathic. In long chronic courses, so-called “atrophy” of the muscle occurs, i.e. a reduction in muscle mass. The chest muscles are attached to the upper arm and are mainly responsible for the rotation of the arm.

In the case of inflammation, weakness, burning muscles or acute inflammation, stabbing pain is the main symptom. In many cases, muscle inflammation spreads from the trunk to the neck muscles. Myositis in the neck is particularly unpleasant in everyday life.

The cervical muscles allow every movement of the head, both rotations and easy standing upright. Severe muscle pain and feelings of weakness result in the patient’s ability to move the head in a very limited way. Everyday things, such as driving a car, become almost impossible.

Throat and pharynx muscles are also located in the neck. Severe muscle inflammation leads to restrictions of these muscle groups. Swallowing difficulties are a frequent consequence.

Every movement is painful and becomes a torture for the patient. Immediate protection, if this is possible in the neck area, and a medical treatment by the doctor become necessary. In serious cases the inflammation can spread to the respiratory muscles, which can sometimes be life-threatening. High-dose cortisone therapy must then be administered by the doctor in charge.