CentraState - Healthy Directions

MORE FOR MONROE Putting Out the Flames of Muscle Disease "I had never missed a day of work in 40 years, says 61-year-old " Walter Reilly of South Brunswick Township. "Never been sick. Last summer, though, I started getting very weak, out of breath, and I didn't have a clue what was wrong. " Walter was experiencing rapidly increasing muscle weakness and pain, weight loss, and shortness of breath, despite his years of routine workouts at the gym. The pain and weakness had become so great by August that Walter couldn't walk 50 feet without stopping and gasping for air. In early September, Walter saw Aly Cohen, MD, board-certified rheumatologist with Integrative Rheumatology Associates in Monroe. Within 10 minutes of reviewing Walter's blood work and medical history, Dr. Cohen knew he was suffering from an inflammatory muscle disease, most likely polymyositis. Inflammatory muscle diseases are characterized by chronic muscle inflammation accompanied by muscle weakness. Often, complaints include fatigue after standing or walking, tripping or falling, and difficulty swallowing or breathing, as the muscle inflammation is focused on the trunk area of the body. Although there is no known cause for this family of diseases, suspected agents are allergic reactions, exposure to toxic substances or medicines, or underlying health concerns such as cancer, rheumatic conditions or viruses. Walter's muscle enzymes were so high that Dr. Cohen had to start treatment immediately. "We're talking about a real progression, " Dr. Cohen reports. Aly Cohen, MD, board- "Within four weeks, certified rheumatologist Walter couldn't really walk down the hallway. " www.centrastate.com Walter Reilly is back at work after treatment cured an inflammatory muscle disease. of prednisone and has returned to the She scheduled a muscle biopsy for gym. He is now working out with very Walter at CentraState Medical Center light weights, slowly building up his with Viswanath Ashok, MD, boardmuscles once again, and is increasing certified surgeon with Central Jersey his cardiovascular endurance. Associates and on staff at CentraState, whom she had worked with in the past. "I'm convinced that Dr. Cohen saved my " "I have a lot of go-to physicians who have life, Walter says. "I was very fortunate to find her. And she won't even take been very conscientious about how credit for that. 'This is my job,' she said. " quickly and well they get things done, " Dr. Cohen says. Walter has returned to work at his firm, The biopsy confirmed her diagnosis. After undergoing the muscle biopsy, Walter took his first dose of prednisone, a steroid that reduces inflammation. By the next morning, Walter reported that all of his pain was gone. In recent months, Walter has tapered his use Reilly's Collision Center. "I'm working outside on a diesel truck like I did when I was 35 years old, he says. " To learn more about the services offered at the CentraState Medical Office at Monroe, visit www.centrastate.com/ medical-offices/Monroe. HD Summer 2013 A

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