Inflammation of the leg muscles is a disease that is called myositis in medicine. It should not be confused with myopathy - it also manifests itself in muscle pain, may be due to the same reasons (for example, excessive consumption of alcohol or certain drugs), but it is not always inflammatory in nature. This is the main difference between them.
Such inflammatory processes can differ in the cause, course, sometimes even symptoms, but most often there is one common symptom - pain that occurs in the affected muscle. On palpation or movement, it may intensify.
With a long course, the disease progresses, constant protective muscle tension leads to the fact that the range of motion in the joints is limited, muscle weakness increases, in some cases, the affected muscles even atrophy.
The causes of myositis are quite diverse. It can be SARS, chronic infections, injuries, parasitic infestations, even hypothermia, or simply increased muscle loads.
Causes of muscle inflammation
Most often, muscle infections are caused by viral infections, bacterial and fungal diseases are less likely to cause this pathology.
Systemic pathologies, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, can provoke a pronounced inflammatory process. Very often, myositis develops as a reaction to exposure to toxic substances - for example, with prolonged alcohol abuse. It also happens that it is caused by a systemic autoimmune disease, although such cases are rare in practice.
In addition, inflammation of the leg muscle above the knee or below, which occurs in mild to moderate severity, can be triggered by severe muscle cramps, hypothermia, injuries, too intense physical activity (for example, in case of excessively active exercises this happens in people with untrained muscles) .
Sometimes muscle inflammation can occur due to prolonged stress associated with the characteristics of professional activity (in people who spend all day on their feet).
Types of inflammatory processes
Inflammation of the calf muscle can be caused by various factors. Depending on this, the following types of disease are distinguished.
Non-purulent infectious myositis
This is the most common form of the disease. Inflammation can be caused by viral infections (e.g., flu or enterovirus), as well as tuberculosis, brucellosis and other similar infections.
The inflammatory process is accompanied by severe pain and symptoms of general intoxication, for example, weakness.
Acute purulent myositis
It is usually a complication of other purulent or necrotic processes, including those provoked by bacterial processes.
In this form, often, in addition to pain, local edema occurs, fever is possible, and in especially severe cases - fever or chills. A blood test will show leukocytosis.
Myositis caused by parasitic invasion
For example, with toxoplasmosis or trichinosis. In fact, its cause is not the very presence of parasites, but a toxic-allergic reaction to their metabolic products.
As a rule, it is accompanied by pain, swelling, a slight increase in temperature, palpable muscle tension. Often the symptoms are wave-like, which is caused by the peculiarities of the life cycle of the parasites.
Ossifying form of myositis
The disease rarely affects the calf muscles, it mainly affects the muscles of the thigh and buttocks, and is accompanied by the deposition of calcium salts in the connective tissues.
Finally, inflammation of the calf muscle can be one of the manifestations of polymyositis, in which multiple muscle damage occurs.
Main symptoms
Many problems can cause inflammation of the leg muscles. Symptoms and treatment of this ailment are therefore worth considering in particular detail. In this case, we are talking about local myositis, since it affects only the muscles of the lower extremities, most often the lower leg. This disease can develop in acute or chronic form. It always begins acutely, and then in the absence of adequate treatment can go into the chronic stage.
Symptoms of inflammation of the leg muscles are as follows:
- aching pain, most often it intensifies with movement and palpation;
- muscle weakness;
- in some cases, redness of the skin;
- local swelling - if the inflammation is caused by trauma or purulent lesion;
- signs of general intoxication - headache, slight fever, etc.
Acute myositis occurs suddenly, almost immediately after the action of factors such as trauma, muscle strain, hypothermia. The exception is infectious and toxic myositis - they develop gradually, are manifested by pronounced clinical symptoms, for many cases the so-called primary chronic course is characteristic.
If the acute form becomes chronic over time, then the disease is already undulating. Pain syndrome appears with exacerbation or with prolonged exertion. Some patients have weather dependence, that is, when the weather changes, the inflammation worsens. Muscle weakness also occurs. In some cases, a slight restriction of movement in the joints located next to the focus of inflammation is possible.
Myositis treatment
If inflammation of the muscles of the legs is diagnosed, the treatment should be comprehensive. The specific measures in this case largely depend on the cause of myositis.
That is, sometimes it is enough to contact only a therapist, but if there is an injury or if excessive physical activity has occurred, the traumatologist should be involved in the treatment. With the bacterial nature of myositis, you may have to consult an infectious disease specialist. And if the tests show the presence of parasites, then to a parasitologist.
Therefore, it is definitely impossible to answer the question of how to treat inflammation of the muscles of the legs. It all depends on the nature of the disease.
For example, with a bacterial infection, drug treatment necessarily includes antibiotic therapy, and with a parasitic infection, anthelmintic drugs can be prescribed. If the inflammatory process develops as a result of an autoimmune disease, then the patient is prescribed a course of glucocorticoids or immunosuppressants.
Nevertheless, most patients are only interested in one thing - how to remove inflammation of the muscles of the legs quickly. For these purposes, muscle relaxants and NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are used.
Of the muscle relaxants, Midokalm (or Tolperison) has proven itself well. It reduces muscle tone, suppresses the reflex activity of the spinal cord and at the same time has an analgesic and vasodilating effect.
"Midokalm" can be taken in tablet form (150 mg three times a day), but in severe cases of the disease it is recommended to administer it in the form of intramuscular or intravenous injections (the latter in physiological saline). "Midokalm" of all the drugs in its group has the most important advantage - it does not have a sedative effect, it does not cause drowsiness or muscle weakness.
An important role is played by the choice of a safe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug. At the same time, some doctors recommend prescribing Aceclofenac (or Aertal).
The principle of action of the drug is the same as that of other NSAIDs, but at the same time it inhibits the synthesis of certain substances, which allows you to quickly remove inflammation. Aertal is produced in the form of tablets for oral administration, they are drunk twice a day, one at a time, without reference to food intake. In principle, the side effects are the same as those of other NSAIDs - disruption of the digestive tract and increased blood pressure, but it rarely causes such undesirable reactions.
In an acute form of inflammation or with an exacerbation of chronic myositis, patients are prescribed strict bed rest for at least a week, and in the future - restriction of physical activity.
If the temperature rises, antipyretics may be prescribed separately. But very often all the same NSAIDs cope with this task - for example, Ibuprofen.
With local myositis, flowing easily, non-steroidal drugs do not even have to be taken orally - you can use warming ointments based on them. These funds, thanks to their irritating effect, help to relax muscles and relieve pain.
With purulent inflammation, massage is contraindicated (in this case, it can contribute to the spread of infection), but with other varieties of this disease it will be useful. Other physiotherapeutic methods are also used. After the end of the acute period, it is recommended to engage in physiotherapy exercises.
Surgical treatment is prescribed only for purulent inflammation, when its focus is opened and the affected tissues are cleaned.
Conclusion
Myositis is a common disease and requires complex therapy. Therefore, at the first symptoms, it is recommended to consult a doctor for examination and the appointment of effective treatment.