It’s not surprising to feel muscle weakness and fatigue after a long day at the office, an arduous workout, or while recovering from an illness. Fortunately, muscle strength eventually returns following a good night’s rest or some recovery time. However, if the muscle weakness appears and is persistent, or worsening without cause, it could indicate a neurological condition.

It is important to differentiate muscle weakness from the regular fatigue one experiences. Diagnosing muscle weakness is usually more challenging, but muscle weakness affects performing daily tasks and activities. This includes climbing a flight of stairs, lifting something, or even standing up from a chair, which now requires more effort. Rushed and slow diagnosis can impact the treatment of some neurological diseases.

What is Muscle Weakness?

Muscle weakness is the inability to perform at a normal strength level. This can occur at the level of one group or even multiple groups of muscles. For some, muscle weakness may be subjective and only occur in the arms or legs, while for others there may be muscle weakness of the facial muscles and even the muscles needed for speaking or swallowing.

Muscle weakness may also occur if there is a disease of the muscle itself or if there is an effect in the brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves.

When is Muscle Weakness a Cause for Concern?

The nervous system is responsible for allowing communication between the brain and muscles via the spinal cord. Muscle weakness can occur if communication is impaired.

Some muscle weakness associated with neurological disorders is as follows:

Stroke

A stroke can cause sudden muscle weakness, more often than not on one side of a person’s body. This is a medical emergency. A stroke must be treated immediately.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis damages the protective layer of the nerves. Communication between the brain and the muscles becomes disrupted. This can cause muscle weakness and issues with coordination and balance.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease can be associated with tremors. However, Parkinson’s can also cause muscle weakness and stiffness, which can create a loss of mobility.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral Neuropathy can cause weakness, numbness and tingling in the hands, feet and other extremities.

Motor Neuron Disease

Motor Neuron Disease can cause weakness and loss of control of voluntary muscles. This is also a progressive disease.

Myasthenia Gravis

Myasthenia Gravis is an autoimmune disease that worsens muscle and nerve communication. It can cause muscle weakness that worsens with activity and improves with rest.

Symptoms that can be Associated with Muscle Weakness

These can be caused by muscle weakness and can include:

• Inability to lift an object
• Inability to climb stairs
• Overall weakness of the arms and legs
• Frequent falls
• Inability to walk
• Balance issues and loss of coordination
• Muscle cramps
• Numbness and/or tingling
• Slurring of speech
• Swallowing issues
• Feeling fatigued after performing an activity

It is important to note that weakness of muscles that occurs suddenly or that is also accompanied by drooping of the face, slurred speech, severe headaches, or any combination of these symptoms is a medical emergency that can be a stroke. It is important to seek medical care immediately for these signs and symptoms.

Muscle Weakness Diagnosis

In order to create a diagnosis for muscle weakness, a comprehensive assessment and history must be completed.

Your neurologist may suggest:

• A thorough medical history
• A physical and neurological examination
• Testing for muscle strength
• Blood tests
• MRI or CT scans
• Electromyography and nerve conduction studies
• Other tests as deemed necessary

These evaluations can rule out other medical conditions and help determine if muscle weakness is caused by a neurological disorder or a muscle disease.

Treatment Options

Treatment options will depend on the cause.

For muscle weakness caused by a neurological disorder, managing that disorder becomes the main focus. This can include the use of medications or rehabilitation.

Physiotherapy helps restore muscle strength as well as flexibility and mobility, with the primary goal being the maintenance of independence in the community.

Occupational therapy can facilitate the alteration of a person’s activities of daily living and can also help in the prescription and use of adaptive devices, if they are considered necessary.

Other factors that can contribute to weakness are vitamin deficiencies, infections, and side effects of medications. Correcting the above can cause an improvement in muscle strength.

An updated lifestyle with a healthy and balanced diet, plenty of sleep, and exercise can contribute to the health of your muscles and nerves.

How do you know when to visit the neurologist?

If you have persistent muscle weakness after just a couple of days and that weakness starts to interfere with your everyday activities, you should definitely visit a neurologist. You should also visit one if the weakness starts to affect your muscles used for speech; if you have weakness that just comes back with no known reason; and if the weakness starts to affect your vision.

If the weakness appears suddenly and especially if it is only one side of your body, and if you’re having problems with speaking as well as with a drooping face, you should seek emergency medical care.

Conclusion

Muscle weakness is not always indicative of ageing or just being overworked. Muscle weakness can also point to the early symptoms of a serious illness in the nervous system. The earlier that these symptoms are treated, the better the patient will be and the less likely they will have to deal with more serious health complications.

At Royal Care Neurosciences, we have some of the top neurologists in the country. They are trained to deal with the symptoms associated with weakness in the muscles and other nervous system health issues. Our staff employs the latest health care and diagnostic technologies to help you improve your quality of life.

FAQs

1. Are weakness in the muscles and fatigue the same?

No, generally tiredness improves after a period of rest; it is different from weakness in the muscles.

2. Are nervous system health issues capable of causing weakness in the muscles?

Yes, some of the issues with health in the nervous system, like stroke, multiple sclerosis, peripheral neuropathy, Parkinson’s and myasthenia gravis, are capable of causing weakness in the muscles.

3. When should I go to the doctor for muscle weakness?

If muscle weakness is constant or getting worse, or if it is even becoming a problem for your normal daily activities, or if it is with symptoms like tingling/numbness, balance issues, or trouble speaking or swallowing, then you should go to the doctor, and perhaps a neurologist. Sudden weakness is even more serious, and you should go to the emergency room right away.