Does myasthenia gravis hurt?

Written by Liu Yan Hao
Neurology
Updated on September 13, 2024
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Myasthenia gravis does not cause pain. Initially, patients with myasthenia gravis may feel discomfort such as soreness or swelling in the eyes or limbs, blurred vision, or fatigue. As the condition progresses, skeletal muscles become noticeably fatigued and weak. A significant characteristic is muscle weakness, which worsens after exertion in the afternoon or evening and improves after rest in the morning, known as "morning better, evening worse." Patients with myasthenia gravis can experience involvement of skeletal muscles throughout the body, manifesting as drooping eyelids, blurred vision, double vision, strabismus, restricted eye movements, bland facial expressions, a "forced smile" appearance, speech impairments resembling a thick tongue often accompanied by a nasal sound. Additionally, they may have chewing difficulties, coughing or choking when drinking, swallowing difficulties, trouble raising the head, weak shoulder shrugging, difficulty lifting arms, combing hair, climbing stairs, squatting, and getting into vehicles, primarily due to muscle weakness, which does not lead to pain.

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Written by Shi De Quan
Neurology
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Can myasthenia gravis affecting respiration be cured?

Myasthenia gravis affecting respiration can be cured because myasthenia gravis can improve after treatments such as oral medication or plasmapheresis. Another possibility is myasthenia gravis concurrent with a myasthenic crisis, which has various forms, causing respiratory difficulties. At this point, symptomatic treatment is required, including the use of ventilators, intubation, and in severe cases, a tracheotomy. After the critical period on the ventilator passes, respiratory function can improve or the myasthenia can ameliorate.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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What is myasthenia gravis?

Myasthenia gravis is a group of neuromuscular junction disorders and is also an autoimmune disease of the nervous system. It primarily involves the production of certain antibodies in the body that attack the acetylcholine receptors on the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction. This results in the inability of nerve impulses to be effectively transmitted to the muscles, causing the muscles to lose neural control, leading to weakness of the limbs. This weakness is typically more pronounced in the evening than in the morning, with symptoms being lighter upon waking and worsening in the afternoon. As the disease is caused by an autoimmune response, a major focus of treatment is to suppress this abnormal immune reaction, primarily through the administration of corticosteroids. Additionally, many patients with myasthenia gravis also exhibit thymus abnormalities, necessitating thorough CT examinations of the thymus.

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Written by Xie Wen
Neurology
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Myasthenia Gravis Surgical Treatment

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease, with many patients also having a thymoma. The thymus is a very important immune organ in humans, and abnormal proliferation of the thymus can produce acetylcholine receptor antibodies. These antibodies circulate to the neuromuscular junction and participate in the antigen-antibody reaction, leading to the onset of myasthenia gravis. By removing the thymus, the initiating antigens of the patient's autoimmune response can be eliminated, reducing the involvement of T cells, B cells, and cytokines in the autoimmune response. This surgery is suitable for patients with thymic hyperplasia and high acetylcholine receptor antibody titers, or those with various types of myasthenia gravis with thymoma, as well as young women with generalized myasthenia gravis, and those who are dissatisfied with cholinesterase inhibitor treatment. About 70% of patients can experience symptom relief or complete recovery after surgery.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Where should I go for treatment of myasthenia gravis?

Myasthenia gravis is classified as a neurology disease. Therefore, patients should visit the neurology department for medical consultation. Fundamentally, it is an immune disorder of the nervous system characterized by the production of abnormal antibodies. These antibodies affect the acetylcholine receptors on the postsynaptic membrane, thereby impacting the transmission of nerve impulses at the neuromuscular junction, which leads to various clinical symptoms. Patients may experience ptosis, double vision, and potentially compromised swallowing function, causing overall weakness. Symptoms typically worsen towards the evening. Many patients also present with thymus abnormalities. Treatment generally involves oral medications, predominantly corticosteroids and cholinesterase inhibitors.

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Written by Zhang Hui
Neurology
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Early symptoms of myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis is a disease of the neuromuscular junction and also an autoimmune disease, caused by a dysfunction in the patient's immune system. Early symptoms of myasthenia gravis may include mild general fatigue, which can be relieved by rest, and may not be particularly concerning to the individual. Some patients may initially exhibit slight ptosis and occasional double vision as clinical symptoms, which they might not take very seriously either. As the disease progresses, the symptoms become more severe, such as noticeable ptosis, double vision, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and even potential weakness of the respiratory muscles, leading to respiratory failure.