Myalgia can be brought on by a wide variety of factors, including physical trauma, infectious processes, and degenerative conditions. Muscle pain can be short-term or chronic. After working out, you might experience something called delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Here are the most common causes of muscle pain and when to call our home GP for a checkup in Sotogrande.
What causes muscle pain?
Muscle pain can be caused by a wide variety of factors, including the following:
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Injuries.
- Infections.
- Neuromuscular disorders.
- Medications.
Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune diseases are those that are caused when the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks the body itself. A strong immune system is necessary for the fight against infectious bacteria and viruses.
Autoimmune diseases that cause muscle pain include:
- Inflammatory myopathies like IBM and PM.
- Lupus
- Multiple sclerosis
Injuries
Overusing the same muscles at work or during exercise can cause soreness.
Other muscle injuries include:
- Abdominal strains.
- Back injuries.
- Fractures and trauma.
- Myofascial pain from overuse.
- Tendonitis
- Tendinosis
Infections
Infections caused by bacteria and viruses can leave you feeling achy all over the body. You may also be experiencing fever, nausea, and swollen lymph nodes, depending on the underlying cause.
The following categories of infections can result in painful muscle conditions:
- Cold and flu.
- Lyme disease and Rocky Mountain spotted fever (tick-borne)
- Malaria
- Trichinosis (foodborne illness).
Neuromuscular disorders
Muscles and the nerves that control them can both become affected by neuromuscular disorders. They have the potential to weaken muscles and cause pain. These conditions include:
- Muscular dystrophy.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS or Lou Gehrig's disease).
- Spinal muscular atrophy
- Myasthenia gravis.
Medications
It is possible for certain medications and treatments to cause pain, either temporarily or permanently. Some medications can cause inflammation around muscle cells, a condition known as myositis, or they can activate pain receptors in the muscle. These treatments include:
- Chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
- Blood pressure medications
- Cholesterol-lowering statins.
Other conditions
In addition to these conditions, the following can also cause muscle pain:
- Cancers, including sarcomas (which are cancers of the soft tissues) and leukaemia (which is a cancer of the blood).
- The condition known as chronic fatigue syndrome.
a condition known as compartment syndrome, or an increase in pressure within the muscles. - Fibromyalgia.
- An imbalance of the electrolytes in your body, which are the minerals that are found in your blood and include calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium.
- Hypothyroidism, also known as an underactive thyroid.
- Peripheral artery disease, also known as PAD.
- Stress and nervous tension
When should you call our Home GP for a checkup in Sotogrande?
If you experience any of the following, you need to contact our Home GP for a checkup in Sotogrande immediately:
- Experiencing discomfort in the chest
- Fever.
- Lack of control over one's bladder
- Weakness in the muscles
- New or worsening pain.
- Muscle numbness or tingling.
A note from Helicopteros Sanitarios Hospital
Muscle aches are common. Rest, stretching, and taking pain medication can all be helpful for relieving temporary muscle pain. If you suffer from a condition that results in persistent muscle pain, it is important that you discuss treatment options with your primary care physician.