Muscle Pain (Myalgia): Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

• Written by Jagriti Chakraborty

  Reviewed by Ritika Malik

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Muscle pain, also referred to as myalgia, is a common sign that you may be suffering from the effects of an injury or an infection, an underlying disease or any health-related problems. The cause of myalgia varies widely and can range from everyday muscle fatigue to chronic autoimmune conditions.

Body pain may occur in the form of deep and steady aches in specific areas or as sharp, random pains that can flare unpredictably. The impact of myalgia varies from individual to individual, and it can turn even simple tasks into a challenge. Muscle spasms may strike anyone, regardless of age and gender. Starting with a new physical activity or switching your exercise routine can also trigger muscle cramps and stiffness. Discomfort often kicks in 6 to 12 hours and can persist for up to two days. This sort of myalgia is called delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS).

Let’s understand the root causes of myalgia, identify fibromyalgia symptoms, and ways to treat of effectively.

What are the Causes of Muscle Pain?

The causes of myalgia pain can be due to several reasons, ranging from infections to autoimmune diseases. Some of the common causes are as follows:

Autoimmune Diseases

There are certain situations under which your body’s immune system mistakes specific symptoms and attacks itself. Such conditions are referred to as autoimmune diseases. While the central role of the immune system is to fight infections and germs, in the case of autoimmune conditions, it may lead to chronic inflammation and muscle pain.

Common Autoimmune diseases that are actively linked to muscle pain are :

• Inflammatory conditions like polymyositis and inclusion body myositis.
• Polymyalgia rheumatica often targets upper-body joints with muscle pain and tightness.
• Lupus is also known as systemic lupus erythematosus, which can damage joints and muscles.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the insulation around nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.

Infections

Infections caused by viruses and bacteria can cause aches all over the body. Depending on the cause of the disease infection, you may also suffer from fever, nausea, and swelling in your lymph nodes.

• Examples of infections that often cause viral myalgia include: Influenza (common flu) and the common cold.
• Infections caused by the bite of ticks, such as Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
• Trichinosis is a parasitic disease resulting from undercooked or raw meat.

Malaria causes intense joint and muscle pain.

Injuries

Muscle injuries are caused by overusing the same muscles or muscle groups while performing physically intensive work or exercising. As a result of overexertion, you may suffer from back pain or experience leg cramps. These issues are associated with the cause of myalgia.

The following types of injuries may also lead to muscle pain:

• Abdominal strains, commonly called pulled muscles, are caused by the tearing or stretching of the stomach muscles.
• Back strains and sprains are caused by the stretching or tearing of a ligament in your back.
• Broken bones and other traumatic injuries cause muscle pain as the muscles around the injured area try to hold the bone in place.
• Muscle overuse causes myofascial pain syndrome, which causes pain in sensitive areas of the muscles.
• Tendinitis is inflammation of the thick cords called tendons that attach muscles to bones. It is generally caused by overactivity.
• Tendinosis is caused by the degeneration of the collagen in the tendons, which is caused by overuse without giving the tendons time to rest and heal.

Medications and Treatments That Cause Myalgia

The side effects of specific therapies and medications may result in temporary and chronic pain due to inflammation of muscle cells.

Common causes include:

• Treatments for cancer include chemotherapy and radiation therapy
• Medications for the treatment of high blood pressure, such as ACE inhibitors
• Medications like statins that are often used to reduce cholesterol levels

Neuromuscular Disorders Causing Myalgia

Disorders of the neuromuscular system often result in muscle pain and weakness. These Include:

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease is a condition that breaks down nerve cells while reducing muscle function.

Muscular dystrophy is a genetic disease causing muscle degeneration and loss of muscle mass.

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease where the signals from the nerves don’t reach the muscles, leading to weakness.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a disorder which affects the motor neurons, which are responsible for controlling voluntary muscle movement.

Other Factors Causing Muscle Pain

Other conditions that cause muscle pain include:

• Polymyalgia Rheumatica Disease: This disease causes acute muscle pain and stiffness, particularly in the hips and shoulders.
• Viral Myalgia: A viral illness, such as dengue, that causes severe muscle pain as part of the infection.
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A condition characterised by genetic or environmental conditions that cause abnormal fatigue, poor sleep patterns, and persistent pain.
• Compartment syndrome: caused by pressure build-up from internal bleeding or tissue swelling that restricts blood flow.
• Fibromyalgia is A chronic condition that causes pain all over your musculoskeletal system. The symptoms include sleep disturbance, fatigue, and specific cognitive issues.
• Electrolyte Imbalance: The imbalance of vital electrolytes in your body, such as sodium, potassium, calcium and magnesium, that trigger muscle cramps and pain.
• Hypothyroidism: A condition marked by the reduction of creation and release of the thyroid hormone in your blood, also referred to as underactive thyroid.
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD): Fat deposits and calcium build up in the walls of the arteries, narrowing the arteries and reducing blood flow to the limbs, causing leg pain.
• Stress: Chronic stress can cause your muscles to tighten and become stiff.

Symptoms of Muscle Pain

The following are the symptoms that you will notice if you are suffering from muscle pain:

• In case of localised myalgia, you will feel weakness or soreness in your muscles in specific areas like the calves, back, or legs.
• If you suffer from systemic myalgia, you will experience muscle cramps and discomfort in various muscle groups throughout the body.
• If you suffer from fibromyalgia, muscle pain is paired with discomfort in the joints.

Muscle Pain Diagnosis

If you suffer from muscle pain that has not been caused by any physical activity or particular physical exercise, consult a healthcare provider.

You may need to undertake specific diagnostic tests, which include:

• Blood tests may be suggested to check for infections or to determine the levels of hormones, electrolytes, or enzymes in the blood.
• MRI tests or CT scans may be required to detect whether you have suffered from any muscle damage or injury.
• You may need to take an electromyography test (EMG) to measure electrical activity in your muscles and nerves and check for deviations from normal levels.
• A biopsy of your muscle tissues may be required to examine the tissue to identify any signs of neuromuscular diseases.

How to Treat Muscle Pain?

Muscle pain may be treated in two ways:

• Home therapy: Ideal for temporary muscle pain by using rest, compresses, warm baths, and specific therapies like acupuncture.
• Professional treatment: If muscle pain continues, a medical evaluation is essential. Treatments may involve physiotherapy or condition-specific treatment, for instance, polymyalgia rheumatica, fibromyalgia, or viral myalgia.
• Do you know: If you are still unsure whether your home remedies are effective in easing your muscle pain, it may be high time to seek professional advice. With Care OPD, you don't have to wait. Take advantage of up to 4 physical consultations with 14+ medical specialists, including orthopaedic surgeons, who can help you diagnose the root cause of myalgia. They can also recommend the most effective treatment plan. Whether it’s a lingering soreness or a chronic condition, you are just an appointment away.

Home Therapy Treatment for Muscle Pain

Home therapy involves treating temporary muscle pain, usually by resting, stretching the affected areas or taking over-the-counter medication to relieve the pain. The most common ways of dealing with pain are:

• Resting and elevating the affected area above your body level to regulate blood flow can reduce strain.
• In turn, apply a cold compress with ice packs and a hot compress consecutively. The cold compress relieves inflammation, and the hot compress reduces muscle soreness by improving blood circulation.
• A shower or bath in warm water with Epsom salts helps relax your muscles.
• You may try therapies such as acupuncture or massage to get even more relief and to relax your muscles further.

Aims to manage and reduce temporary muscle pain to facilitate a swift recovery. However, despite these measures, if you find that your pain is persisting or increasing in intensity, then you need to seek professional medical care.

>> Also Read: Back Pain: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Professional Treatment for Muscle Pain

The physician will require you to undergo the tests we have already discussed to be able to diagnose the cause of your muscle pain, also referred to as myalgia. Apart from specialised medicines, your physician may recommend sessions with a physical therapist or physiotherapist to help you with gentle stretches to reduce pain.

Depending on the probable cause of myalgia, your physician may also refer you to a rheumatologist, an orthopaedist or a specialist in neurology or neuromuscular conditions, especially in case of polymyalgia rheumatica or fibromyalgia

In case you find yourself suffering from the following conditions, you should seek immediate medical aid:

• Pain in your chest
• Fever
• Reduced control of your bladder
• Weakness in muscles
• New pain or pain that is getting worse
• Feelings of numbness or a tingling sensation in your limbs

From Pain to Health Insurance Benefits

Muscle pain is common and often manageable with rest, simple home remedies, or lifestyle adjustments. However, if the pain becomes severe or starts interfering with daily life, professional medical intervention becomes indispensable.

To stay financially protected, consider investing in a comprehensive health insurance plan that can help you meet your diverse healthcare needs. With a trustworthy health plan, you can get confidence and peace of mind when in a time of medical crisis.

Disclaimers: The above information is for reference purposes only. For more details about the health insurance plans and their benefits, please refer to the sales prospectus, policy terms, and conditions.