That sounds really exhausting and frustrating — not having the strength to walk is serious, and it's important to take that seriously.
Muscle weakness and loss of muscle tone is something many people with RA experience. It can happen for a few different reasons related to RA, including:
- Rheumatoid cachexia — a condition Show Full Answer
That sounds really exhausting and frustrating — not having the strength to walk is serious, and it's important to take that seriously.
Muscle weakness and loss of muscle tone is something many people with RA experience. It can happen for a few different reasons related to RA, including:
- Rheumatoid cachexia — a condition where RA-related inflammation causes loss of muscle mass and strength
- Peripheral neuropathy — nerve damage that can occur as a comorbidity of RA, affecting up to 50% of people with RA, which can cause muscle weakness
- Medication side effects — some RA medications like corticosteroids and certain DMARDs can affect electrolyte balance, contributing to muscle weakness and cramps Some myRAteam members have shared similar struggles with muscle weakness making daily movement very difficult.
The good news is there are approaches that may help, such as:
- High-intensity strength training to help rebuild muscle strength and improve physical functioning
- Physical therapy to strengthen muscles and improve range of motion
- TNF inhibitors (a type of biologic medication) which can help reduce inflammation that contributes to muscle loss
Please bring this up with your rheumatologist as soon as possible — muscle weakness severe enough to affect walking really needs medical attention. They can assess whether your RA, your medications, or a combination of factors may be contributing.
July 25
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