How to Diagnose the Cause of Muscle Weakness

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By G. Wallace-Taylor
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Muscle weakness can affect your quality of life, as everyday tasks become difficult, often leading to fatigue and depression. Take some time to consider your physical symptoms, medical history and current activities in order to help your doctor diagnose and treat the problem.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Step 1

Make a list of all the symptoms you are experiencing. In addition to muscle weakness, your doctor will want to know if you have any neck or back pain, vision problems, twitching or speech impairment.
Step 2

Gather all your prescription medications and any supplements you are currently taking. Some drugs cause interactions with other drugs or vitamins, especially steroids and diuretics.
Step 3

Wear a proper respirator if you're working around insecticides. If muscle weakness occurs after applying pesticides, you may have a toxic level in your bloodstream. Additional symptoms of insecticide poisoning include fatigue after physical exertion, speech impairment and vision problems.
Step 4

Consider your medical history, Diabetics are prone to weakness in the extremities as nerves deteriorate and sufferers of endocrine disease may exhibit chronic bouts of muscle weakness. Guillain-Barre syndrome begins with leg weakness that progresses quickly.
Step 5

Ask older relatives if they remember either themselves, or their siblings suffering from muscle weakness as a child. The genetic disorder, Werdnig-Hoffman syndrome affects only children and runs in families. Muscular Dystrophy is another hereditary disease that results in muscle wasting.
Step 6

Tell your doctor if you've recently suffered an injury to your back, neck or head. Pressure from a ruptured disk or damaged spinal column on your spinal cord may reduce physical sensation and strength in your legs or arms.