Myalgia (Muscle Pain): Causes, Treatment, Symptoms, and Prevention 


The advancement of technology and the rise modern lifestyles have made it challenging to maintain a balance between diet and physical activity to keep the body healthy and fit, which has exacerbated many chronic diseases. This in turn has led to sedentary lifestyles and reduced movements. Myalgia, or muscle pain, is one of the most common side effects of our hectic schedules caused by long sitting hours, inflammations, metabolic disorders and several disease conditions. Moreover, in most cases, myalgia is the outcome of a deteriorating way of living, which includes sedentary desk jobs with long sitting hours, wrong posture, extreme exercising, lack of sleep, seasonal flu, and prolonged screen time doom-scrolling on social media, putting further strain on both our physical and mental health.

What is Myalgia? And its type

Muscle pain, medically also known as myalgia, is the stinging pain and aches associated with soft tissues of the muscles and bones like tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Myalgia shows symptoms like muscle cramps, joint pain and tenderness, swelling and redness in the affected area. This problem can occur in one particular area or throughout the body. Localised pain at one particular spot can be due to an injury while entire-body pain can be due to an infection or inflammation.

There are several different types of Myalgia per cause, as discussed below.

• Idiopathic myalgia: Inflammation of muscles and organ systems due to autoimmune conditions results in idiopathic myalgia. This condition causes gradual muscle weakness, and initially, it shows no signs of symptoms in some cases. People face muscle pain while doing day-to-day tasks, but the cause still remains unknown.
• Fibromyalgia: It occurs in the soft tissues of the muscles and is a chronic condition characterised by symptoms like fatigue, sleep and cognitive issues. Fibromyalgia is a chronic type of muscle inflammation that causes severe tenderness and pain in parts of the body. While the causes of fibromyalgia remain unknown, studies have found that certain health conditions, stress and other life changes might trigger it.
• Myositis: Inflammation of muscles of different parts of the body, which are attacked by the body’s own immune system, causing chronic inflammation.
  
  

Based on the location of Myalgia they can be specified into two types:

• Localised myalgia: It is an acute pain condition and specifically occurs in a particular part of the muscle group. It may be caused due to muscle injury or excess use of that muscle. Pain may gradually disappear.
• Diffused myalgia: With muscle inflammation and pain spread all over the body, this occurs in chronic conditions like infections, impaired thyroid function, and SLE (lupus) an autoimmune disease.
  
  

  Top prominent causes of Myalgia

• Chronic fatigue syndrome: Chronic fatigue syndrome also causes prolonged muscle tiredness that even rest doesn’t overcome, which makes it difficult to do basic tasks and increases sleepiness, dizziness impacting cognitive functioning.
• Muscle Injuries: Muscle cramps, sprains and strains, often common in sports and fitness enthusiasts due to overuse of one specific muscle group or while toning a particular muscle, can injure muscle tissues when not followed by proper rest and diet, triggering extreme muscle pain. However, these muscle cramps may or may not last for long. Usually, the cramp settles within minutes, but the body might remain sore for hours or even days.
• Lyme disease: Lyme disease is mostly caused by ticks carrying the borrelia bacteria. It may appear as a small bite similar to that of a mosquito, a rash, or an itchy bump on the skin and can last up to 3 to 30 days if not taken care of. This bacteria can trigger symptoms of fibromyalgia associated with joint and muscle pain. It can cause severe muscle weakness, with the pain spreading in the entire body, and may result in swelling, numbness, and redness around affected areas.
• Autoimmune diseases: In autoimmune conditions like Scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus(SLE), the body’s immune system starts attacking the body’s muscle tissues, and it may lead to problems like myositis, a chronic condition of myalgia disease. Rheumatoid arthritis generally impacts smaller joints first but as it progresses it spreads towards knees, elbows, wrists, shoulders, and hips, causing swelling and stiffness of the affected parts.
  
• Myofascial pain syndrome(MPS): Pain in the muscle fibres for a long time due to muscle tension after repeated movements used in a particular activity, sports, exercise, or job can cause muscle aches, poor posture, weakness and muscle soreness. This long-term pain disorder is called myofascial pain syndrome, which triggers back, shoulder, and face pain and aches.
  
• Mental health issues: According to studies, the presence of psychological distress and musculoskeletal pain is often linked with severe fatigue, which worsens over time if not treated. For example, depression, anxiety, PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), and bipolar disorder expose the body to chronic musculoskeletal pain and chronic stress.
  
• Infections: Bacterial, fungal and viral infections can raise the body’s inflammation rate and lead to muscle pain throughout the body. Infections like dengue, malaria, and haemorrhagic fever can increase the chances of myalgia. Fungal, bacterial, and viral infections, especially during the flu season, can cause a common fever and chills, which can trigger muscle pain in the body. This happens because the body responds automatically to fight these infections by releasing certain chemicals called cytokines that cause inflammation throughout the body, leading to myalgia. Sometimes it also exacerbates muscle soreness, fatigue, swelling and redness in certain cases.
• Mineral and vitamin deficiency: Mineral and vitamin deficiency  often cause lower levels of energy production leading to a constant feeling of fatigue, lethargy, and weakness. Moreover, nutrients like magnesium, potassium and calcium play an important role in muscle function as deficiency of these nutrients leads to an increased risk of muscle cramps and soreness. Similarly, vitamin D deficiency contributes towards the pro-inflammatory state inhibiting calcium absorption, which can cause bone and muscle pain. B-group vitamin deficiency which is important for the myelin sheath and protect your nerves can aggravate pain and inflammation with tingling nerve sensation.

Signs and Symptoms of Myalgia

Muscle and body aches can be due to various underlying conditions as discussed above. However, signs of myalgia will be different across people. Myalgia symptoms can also be mild or severe depending on the cause and severity. Listed below are some of the most common signs and symptoms of myalgia.

• Fever and sudden chills
• Fatigue induced weakness
• Joint pain
• Body ache
• Sleeping disorders
• Stinging sensations
• Swelling and redness
• Leg muscles cramp
• Inability to concentrate
• Chronic depression
• Shortness in breathing

Treating Myalgia

 Muscle aches and muscle soreness after workouts are two different phenomena. Muscle soreness is common after intense exercise sessions, whereas muscle and body aches can be influenced by other factors such as underlying undiagnosed conditions, long sitting hours due to a desk job, or a sedentary lifestyle. To curb, prevent, or treat muscle pain, the following measures can be adopted. However, it is best to consult a healthcare specialist in case of prolonged body aches if it is causing discomfort in movement or making it difficult to achieve simple day-to-day tasks.

• Rest and recovery: Over-exertion mostly leads to strained muscles, resulting in wear and tear of muscle fibres, making rest equally important to provide these muscles with an opportunity to heal and recover.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers: OTC medication can treat minor pains and aches. Aspirin and ibuprofen (NSAIDs) or pain relief roll-on can also be used to reduce low levels of muscle ache and treat inflammation under the supervision of a physician or healthcare professional.
• Heat therapy: Heat therapy can help treat relatively older muscle stiffness by heat compressions and stimulating blood flow on the affected site.
• Ice/Cold therapy: It is mainly adopted to reduce swelling and inflammation due to any recent injuries causing muscle spasms.
• Elevating: When leg muscles are affected muscle pain can be alleviated to minimise the inflammation and improve blood circulation.
• Professional treatments: In case of severe myalgia, help of a physiotherapist or specialist should be taken to practice specific stretches and exercises in order to deal with prolonged discomfort and symptoms like muscle cramps, tremors, or spasms. Taking occasional massages is an effective way to reinstate blood flow in the affected muscles and reduce muscle stiffness and soreness.

When to See a Doctor

It is advised to consult a healthcare professional if you’ve been experiencing sudden unbearable pain or prolonged pain in the body without any specific reason, which is making it difficult to do minimal day-to-day tasks or signs of leg cramps at night. Or if you’re ticking several boxes on the symptom list given above, it is particularly important to visit a doctor and take a blood test to identify the underlying causes and severity of the situation that is driving these muscle aches so that appropriate treatment-related interventions can be adopted to reverse or manage the condition.

Preventing Myalgia

It is important to incorporate a well-balanced diet in your regimen to avoid myalgia symptoms occurring due to essential vitamin and mineral deficiencies. A combination of protein-rich foods such as chicken, eggs, pulses, beans, millet and fish along with foods rich in micronutrients, fruits, green leafy vegetables, nuts, and seeds is important to enhance nutrient absorption in the body for maximum health. An active lifestyle with work-life balance, optimal sleep, and recovery are also important factors that can decrease the likelihood of developing myalgia. For those involved in strenuous physical activity, it is important to perform stretching exercises and proper warm-up exercises before intense sessions to maintain a good posture and avoid the risk of muscle strain or injury.

Conclusion

Myalgia is a common symptom of various auto-immune and neuromuscular disorders. But, in many cases, it also occurs due to sports-related activities or overuse of a particular muscle for a prolonged duration. Steadfast Nutrition’s muscle pain relief roll-on “Stead Relief” is an effective formula comprising 21 Ayurvedic herbs to provide quick relief from pain and reduce inflammation of muscles and joints. The anti-inflammatory properties of the herbs in SteadRelief improve circulation and reduce pain in the affected area while promoting mobility and comfort. It is suitable for those seeking quick relief from muscular pain and sprains, especially sportspersons and fitness enthusiasts. Other than keeping a check on the diet and nutrients, stress management and optimal sleep are necessary for maximum recuperation. Furthermore, modifying your lifestyle by balancing rest and recovery will allow your muscles to heal and promote overall efficacy and well-being.

FAQs

1. What is Myalgia?

Myalgia is a medical term used for muscle pain which is caused by several factors, such as overexertion during workouts, chronic illnesses, injuries, or usage of certain medications.

2. Is Myalgia a disease?

Myalgia can be a symptom of an underlying disease, but it cannot be termed as a disease in itself.

3. What are the common symptoms of myalgia?

Muscle stiffness, muscle aches, and weakness that last throughout the day in addition to fever, fatigue, and joint pain are some common myalgia symptoms.

4. How long does Myalgia typically last?

Myalgia can last up to 1 to 2 weeks but can vary from a few minutes to several days depending on the severity of the condition. 

5. How is Myalgia diagnosed?

Myalgia can be diagnosed by consulting a healthcare professional who can evaluate the symptoms as there are no specific blood tests. Inflammatory marker blood tests like ESR and CRP can be done to check the inflammation levels. Muscle biopsy, nerve conduction studies, muscle imaging, or EMG (electromyography) according to the prevalent symptoms and medical history are done to diagnose the problem.

6. When should I see a doctor for muscle pain?

Make an appointment with a healthcare professional if you have constant muscle pain and other inflammatory symptoms such as redness, rashes, swelling, etc. for a long duration.

7. Are there any home remedies for muscle pain?

Rest, recovery, ice and heat therapy, or OTC pain-relieving medicines can be used to get muscle pain relief. However, it is important to consult a doctor if the pain in the muscles lasts for several days and for safer treatment.