Hi, I have muscle atrophy. I also have joint degeneration and I just got a diagnosis of Chronic Inflammatory Polyneuropathy. I have all body numbness and according to my EMG/NCS I have axon loss. I lost a lot of muscles and I am skinny.
I would like to know whether this kind of muscle atrophy is reversible?
Posted by Annie C (Member # 14) on :
Hi hope, I have but only my experiences with muscle loss. I have had Lyme for 45+ years. Dx'd in 2000. Common neruo muscle spasams. I was perscribed Flexoril 10mg's 3 times a day. I took it for years. And in 05 my son 23 yrs at that time. Said Mom you gotta stop taking muscle relaxers! Because you can lose all your muscle mass. And I have lost 95% muscle mass. My thighs looks like a hand held paper fan when you close is half way. So no shorts.Now only Pants and capri's and skirts and dresses. To BUILD MUSCLE requires excersise reg. With a specialist and a nutritonist. I can not afford one so I do TaiChi to build and it really helps my balance Ya as if... When I mentiond this to my LLMD he took me off of it. Im not a Dr Im a pt. and Hang on. Hugs AnnieC
Posted by Bugg (Member # 8095) on :
Hope29-
So sorry you're suffering. I did have muscle atrophy but not to the extend you describe nor did I have CIP. However, with my atrophy, I had what you call "angel wings"....meaning I was so thin and weak you could see my ribs in the back.
That was about 2 1/2 years ago. I am MUCH IMPROVED. My muscle tone came back after I stopped all of the abx, took whey protein on a regular basis, and took at least 3-5IUs a day of vitamin D. I believe the Vitamin D in particular is key.
I am "not well" in the sense I still battle fatigue, muscle cramps, and stiffness. However, the aforementioned did help me to feel much, much better. In fact, recently I was able to do a "zip line" in the jungle...something I couldn't have imagined doing even a year ago...
I also think it's important to try to at least go for some walks or get in a pool if you can...I also take magnesium on a regular basis for the stiffness/cramps in the muscles...
Unfortunately I don't have a recommendation for the CIP.
So sorry you're hurting....
Posted by Tincup (Member # 5829) on :
Sorry you are having such a rough time. I'm not a doctor but maybe this will give you some more hope, hope.
I started developing muscle atrophy a while back... with obvious "sections" disappearing from my muscles. I have bad tendons, ligaments, and joints.
I started on cipro and I can NOT say if this was the reason or not... but my muscles seem to be "coming back".
My theory... no science to prove it... but my theory is..
Cipro is often blamed for causing muscle/tendon damage in some people.
MY thought is it attacks the keets in the muscles and tendons more so than other antibiotics.
And when the keets are killed, and before the muscles heal, the muscles are weakened and simple general activity can cause a sprain, strain or tear.
I also feel Babesia can negatively affect muscles and can cause spasms and other problems.
For what it is worth...
Hope you get answers and feel better soon.
Posted by hope_29 (Member # 22363) on :
AnnieC, Bugg and Tincup,
Thank you for your answers. I think I will try to take proteins...
![[hi]](graemlins/hi.gif)
and Hang on. Hugs AnnieC
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)