What is the Difference Between Myopathy and Neuropathy

The key difference between myopathy and neuropathy is that myopathy is a condition in which muscles get damaged, leading to the impairment of movement or weakness of muscles, while neuropathy is a condition in which nerves get damaged, leading to pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in one or more parts of the body.

Myopathy and neuropathy are two medical conditions that cause weakness in different parts of the body. Sometimes, both these conditions can simultaneously present in one person. Moreover, these conditions can affect an individual at any age and may be present in a variety of forms.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Myopathy
3. What is Neuropathy
4. Similarities – Myopathy and Neuropathy
5. Myopathy vs Neuropathy in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Myopathy vs Neuropathy

What is Myopathy?

Myopathy is a condition that affects skeletal muscles. This condition attacks muscle fibers and makes the muscles weak. There are two main myopathies: inherited and acquired. Inherited myopathies are present since birth, while acquired myopathies develop later in life due to other medical disorders, infections, exposure to certain drugs, or electrolyte imbalances. All myopathies share common symptoms. These symptoms may include muscle weakness (most probably in the upper arms, shoulders, and thighs), severe pain in the affected area, muscle cramps, stiffness and spasms, fatigue or exhaustion, and lack of energy. The risk factors for this condition include having a family history of myopathy, being designated male at birth, having an autoimmune, metabolic, or endocrine condition, and being exposed to certain medications.

Moreover, myopathy is diagnosed through physical evaluation, blood tests, electromyography (EMG and nerve conduction studies), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), genetic test, and muscle biopsy. Furthermore, treatment options for myopathy may include medications like immunomodulatory or immunosuppressant drugs (methotrexate, cyclosporine, tacrolimus, azathioprine, mycophenolate, rituximab, and intravenous immunoglobulin), corticosteroids, physical therapy, occupational therapy and some form of exercise, and gene therapy.

What is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy occurs when nerve damage leads to pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in one or more parts of the body. This nerve damage can be caused due to infections, medicines, long-term alcohol abuse, or other reasons. Sometimes, this condition can be idiopathic. There are different types of neuropathies, such as autonomic neuropathy (damage to autonomic functions), diabetic neuropathy (due to diabetes), peripheral neuropathy (affects peripheral nerves), focal or mononeuropathy (affects only one nerve), and polyneuropathy (affects several nerves). The symptoms of neuropathy may include severe pain, especially at night, numbness, tingling, a burning sensation, electric shock, muscle weakness, a loss of movement, problems with balance, digestion, bowel function, bladder function, erectile dysfunction, sweating, and feeling lightheadedness. Neuropathy has risk factors such as diabetes, alcohol misuse, vitamin deficiencies, infections, autoimmune conditions, kidney, liver, or thyroid disorders, exposure to toxins, repetitive motions, and family history.

Neuropathy can be diagnosed through medical history, physical evaluation, nerve conduction studies, and blood tests. Furthermore, treatment options for neuropathy may include medicines to relieve pain (acetaminophen and ibuprofen), physical therapy, and surgery.

What are the Similarities Between Myopathy and Neuropathy?

• Myopathy and neuropathy are two medical conditions that cause weakness in different parts of the body.
• Both these conditions can simultaneously be present in one person.
• They can affect an individual at any age and may present in a variety of forms.
• Both these conditions may have similar symptoms, such as muscle weakness, a loss of movement, etc.
• Moreover, they can be diagnosed through physical evaluation, blood tests, and nerve conduction studies.
• They are treated mainly through medications and physical therapy.

What is the Difference Between Myopathy and Neuropathy?

Myopathy is a condition in which muscles get damaged, leading to the impairment of movement or weakness of muscles, while neuropathy is a condition in which nerves get damaged, leading to pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in one or more parts of the body. Thus, this is the key difference between myopathy and neuropathy. Furthermore, the risk factors for myopathy include having a family history of myopathy, being designated male at birth, having an autoimmune, metabolic, or endocrine condition, and being exposed to certain medications. On the other hand, the risk factors for neuropathy include diabetes, alcohol misuse, vitamin deficiencies, infections, autoimmune conditions, kidney, liver, or thyroid disorders, exposure to toxins, repetitive motions, and family history.

The below infographic presents the differences between myopathy and neuropathy in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Myopathy vs Neuropathy

Weakness in different body parts is a common symptom in people of any age. Myopathy and neuropathy are two medical conditions that cause weakness in the different parts of the body and movement problems. Myopathy causes the impairment of movement or weakness of muscles due to the damage caused to muscles. Neuropathy causes pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in one or more parts of the body due to the damage caused to nerves. So, this is the summary of the difference between myopathy and neuropathy.

Reference:

1. “Myopathy: Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment.” Cleveland Clinic.
2. “Neuropathy.” Healthdirect, Healthdirect Australia.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Myofibrillary myopathy histology” By Luo Y-B, Peng Y, Lu Y, Li Q, Duan H, Bi F and Yang H – Expanding the Clinico-Genetic Spectrum of Myofibrillar Myopathy: Experience From a Chinese Neuromuscular Center. (2020) Front. Neurol. 11:1014. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2020.01014 (CC BY 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Blausen 0311 DiabeticNeuropathy” By Blausen.com staff (2014). “Medical Gallery of Blausen Medical 2014”. WikiJournal of Medicine 1 (2). DOI:10.15347/wjm/2014.010. ISSN 2002-4436. – Own work (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia