Chris-This is what I have figured out. If I strength test (calf raises, heel/toe, hopping on one foot, etc.) I can do it. If my husband performs manual strength tests on me (he is a physical therapist), I pass with flying colors. However, if I do work with my arms above my head, blow dry my hair, rake leaves, housework, I tire easily and muscles feel fatigued. I think this is more of an endurance issue rather than an actual strength issue. That is why a lot of people report exercise intolerance. I could exercise like I used to, but I won't put myself through the crappy way I feel afterwards. I used to jog, lift weights, walk many miles, etc. I'm certain I still can, but it's not worth the aftermath. Let me tell you something that happened to my husband.....he had a viral illness of some sort, fever, chills, aches, pains, etc. Shortly afterwards (and he didn't tell me about this until I forced him) he started to get a weak feeling in his legs, hip flexors, calves, hands and the works. He was having a hard time holding a pen and writing his name and for as strong as my husband is (he lifts weights every day) he could not crush a pop can!!!!!!!! This is the example he uses as weakness. He could not complete some normal day to day tasks. It turns out that his viral illness caused a case of viral myositis. It attacks the muscles. His CPK levels were 8000 instead of 400 which indicates muscle damage. It took a couple of months for him to feel back to full strength and we were lucky because there is a form of myositis that is permanent. The doctors could also not tell him whether he would get this back or not now that he has had it once.Anyway, sorry this is so long, but I wanted to tell you that we are probably dealing with endurance issues more so than weakness issues and to give you a good example of weakness that was very obvious to my husband and his physician. Take care.Stacy
