Generalized weakness resident survival guide: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 13:15, 22 October 2020

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Moises Romo M.D.

Synonyms and Keywords: dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, Guillian-barre syndrome, polymyositis, emg

Overview

Generalized weakness or lack of strength is a direct term for the inability to exert force with ones muscles to the degree that would be expected given the individual's general physical fitness. The weakness may be caused due to affection in the muscle, nerve, or neuromuscular plate. Causes of generalized weakness may be as varied as cardiovascular, chemical, dermatologic, drugs side effects, endocrine, environmental, gastroenterologic, genetic, hematologic, iatrogenic, infectious, musculoskeletal, neurologic, nutritional, oncologic, overdose, psychiatric, and renal. A test of strength is often used during a diagnosis of a muscular disorder before the etiology can be identified. Many times, the cause of weakness may be identified with the history and physical examination; emg may guide into the type of weakness, but other times biopsy or other laboratory test may be necessary.

Causes

Life Threatening Causes

Life-threatening causes include conditions that may result in death or permanent disability within 24 hours if left untreated.

Common Causes

Diagnosis

Shown below is an algorithm summarizing the diagnosis of Generalized weakness according to the American Academy of Neurology guidelines:

Generalized weakness symptoms

True motor weakness?

No

Yes

Evaluate for causes of fatigue or muscle pain

Fluctuating

Constant

•Myasthenia Gravis
•Lambert-Eaton syndrome
•Periodic paralysis
•Metabolic myopathy

Acquiered

Life-long/chronic

•Polymyositis
•Dermatomyositis
•Inclusion body myopathy
•Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
•Multifocal motor neuropathy

Non-progessive

Progressive

•Congenital myopathy
•Congenital dystrophy

Ocular
•Kearns-sayre syndrome
•Oculopharyngeal dystrophy
•Ocular dystrophy

Facial
•Fascioscapulohumeral dystrophy
•Myotonic dystrophy

Upper extremities
•Emery-Dreiffus dystrophy
•Hereditary distal myopathy

Lower extremities
•Duchenne's muscular dystrophy
•Becker's muscular dystrophy
•Sarcoglycanopathies
•Spinal muscular atrophy
•Limb girdle dystrophy

Treatment

Treat the underlying cause.

To view the treatment of Guillian-Barre syndrome click here.
To view the treatment of Myasthenia Gravis click here.
To view the treatment of Polymyositis click here.
To view the treatment of Lambert-Eaton syndrome click here.
To view the treatment of Botulism click here.

Do's

The content in this section is in bullet points.

Don'ts

The content in this section is in bullet points.

References

Template:WikiDoc Sources

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 '''''Synonyms and Keywords:''''' ''[[dystrophy]], [[myasthenia gravis]], [[Guillian-barre syndrome|Guillian-barre syndrome]], [[polymyositis]], [[Electromyography|emg]]''
 ==Overview==
-Generalized weakness (or "lack of strength") is a direct term for the inability to exert force with ones [[Muscle|muscles]] to the degree that would be expected given the individual's general [[physical fitness]]. The weakness may be caused due to affection in the muscle, nerve, or neuromuscular plate. Causes of generalized weakness may be as varied as cardiovascular, chemical, dermatologic, drugs side effects, endocrine, environmental, gastroenterologic, genetic, hematologic, iatrogenic, infectious, musculoskeletal, neurologic, nutritional, oncologic,  overdose, psychiatric, and renal. A test of strength is often used during a [[diagnosis]] of a muscular disorder before the [[etiology]] can be identified. Many times, the cause of weakness may be identified with the history and physical examination; emg may guide into the type of weakness, but other times biopsy or other laboratory test may be necessary.
+[[Generalized weakness]] or lack of strength is a direct term for the inability to exert force with ones [[Muscle|muscles]] to the degree that would be expected given the individual's general [[physical fitness]]. The [[weakness]] may be caused due to affection in the [[muscle]], [[nerve]], or [[neuromuscular plate]]. Causes of [[generalized weakness]] may be as varied as [[cardiovascular]], [[chemical]], [[Dermatologic disorders|dermatologic]], drugs side effects, [[endocrine]], environmental, [[Gastroenterology|gastroenterologic]], [[genetic]], [[hematologic]], [[iatrogenic]], [[infectious]], [[musculoskeletal]], [[neurologic]], [[nutritional]], [[Oncology|oncologic]],  [[overdose]], [[psychiatric]], and [[renal]]. A test of strength is often used during a [[diagnosis]] of a [[muscular]] disorder before the [[etiology]] can be identified. Many times, the cause of [[weakness]] may be identified with the history and [[physical examination]]; [[Electromyogram|emg]] may guide into the type of [[weakness]], but other times [[biopsy]] or other [[Laboratory|laboratory test]] may be necessary.
 ==Causes==
 ===Life Threatening Causes===
@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 Treat the underlying [[Causes|cause]].
-* To view the treatment of [[Guillain-Barré syndrome|Guillian-Barre syndrome]] [[Guillian-barre syndrome|click here]].
+*To view the treatment of [[Guillain-Barré syndrome|Guillian-Barre syndrome]] [[Guillian-barre syndrome|click here]].
 *To view the treatment of [[Myasthenia Gravis]] [[Myasthenia gravis|click here]].
 *To view the treatment of [[Polymyositis]] [[Polymyositis and dermatomyositis|click here]].