The main muscles to be affected are around the shoulders, hips and thighs. Having myositis can also lead to other parts of the body being affected, such as the skin, lungs or heart. Sometimes myositis can affect the muscles that carry out tasks such as breathing and swallowing.

What does myositis pain feel like?

Myositis is the name for a group of rare conditions. The main symptoms are weak, painful or aching muscles. This usually gets worse, slowly over time. You may also trip or fall a lot, and be very tired after walking or standing.

How do I know if I have myositis?

The main symptom of myositis is muscle weakness. The weakness may be noticeable or may only be found with testing. Muscle pain (myalgias) may or may not be present. Dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and other inflammatory myositis conditions tend to cause weakness that gets worse slowly over weeks or months.