So, my muscle hurts daily and so does everyone’s, what’s the big deal?
Yes, indeed one of the common complaints, muscle aches (myalgia) is experienced by each one of us day in and day out. Also, there are numerous common reasons behind our daily muscle aches, such as excessive standing, walking, climbing, running, sitting, or others. Any such daily activities cause our muscles to ache and are generally short-term visitors but, there are also some major reasons behind it which if not taken care of now; can lead to serious complications later. So, let's decode first: What is Muscle Pain?
Muscle Pain (Myalgia) is not a life-threatening condition but yet is a reason to worry if it's persistent or is not improving with time. The discomfort that we experience in our muscles in the form of throbbing pain, aching, cramping, stabbing, or burning, varies depending upon the causes behind it. Since our muscle is constructed of skeletal muscle tissue, blood vessels, tendons, and nerves, any muscle tear, pull or strain can also damage small blood vessels, causing local bleeding, bruising, and pain caused by irritation of the nerve endings in the area. Therefore, not just major but even a minor ache should be taken into consideration. Common Muscle Pain Causes
Muscle pain is of two types. It can be either one or two muscle areas that might be hurting or your whole muscular system. Some of the common causes of pain in particular muscles are due to:
- Stress
- Overuse of muscles
- Injury or trauma, including sprains and strains
- Skipping warmups and cooldowns
- Infections (flu, Lyme disease, malaria, muscle abscess, polio)
- Autoimmune diseases (Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory joint disease)
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- Certain medications, including ACE inhibitors for lowering blood pressure, cocaine, and statins for lowering cholesterol
- Neuromuscular disorders.
- Repetitive injuries
- Fibromyalgia
- Certain cancers
- Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
Muscle Pain Symptoms to Watch Out
Symptoms vary depending upon the muscle pain causes. However, some of the common symptoms that indicate something is wrong with your muscles are: - Pain, restless aches
- Redness, swelling
- Difficulty in moving
- Tingling or numbness
- Pain even after resting or taking medication
- Muscle weakness
Muscle Pain Treatments and How To Manage It At Home?
Although muscle aches due to daily chores, workouts, and other minor stress respond well to home treatment. Some need proper diagnosis which is done via:
- Blood and urine tests to check for infections to prevent complications.
- Physical examination to check mobility.
- Ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan to look for muscle injury or damage.
- Muscle biopsy to see for changes in muscle tissue if any as that may indicate neuromuscular diseases.
- Electromyography to access the electrical activity of nerves and muscles.
1. Start with R.I.C.E. therapy
- Rest your painful area
- Ice it using an ice pack or a frozen bag of peas for 20 minutes several times a day
- Compress using a compression bandage to reduce swelling.
- Elevate the painful area above the level of your heart, especially at night, which allows gravity to help reduce swelling.
2. Massage and stretch
Try gently massaging and stretching your painful area. Stop immediately if the pain increases.
3. Rest and Heal
Muscle pain after a workout or overuse simply needs some rest to get back on track. So, get plenty of rest and avoid doing high-impact activities until after the muscle pain goes away. You can also soak in a warm bath with Epsom salts or take a warm shower for stress and pain relief. Note: Take an over-the-counter pain reliever only if it's unbearable or else it is better to avoid.
4. Try Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is one of the safest, drug-free, and non-invasive ways to heal from any pain and injury and it is proven to bring significant relief to muscle discomforts. Indeed you might be wondering how can one go for physiotherapy when in pain. Well, technology has advanced and today with portable and compact physiotherapy devices available, one can easily heal at home, or anywhere, anytime, without the presence of any medical expert.
How Physiotherapy Helps in Easing Muscle Aches?
Physiotherapy is not just a treatment for muscle aches but is lifelong protection from the pain to reappear. Therapeutic physical therapies like Ultrasound, TENS, Deep-tissue IFT, and EMS, all work remarkably well for muscle pain relief. The electrical impulses or the sound waves generated in such physiotherapy devices, improve the blood flow, stimulate the production of Endorphins - the body’s natural pain killer, and block the transmission of pain signals to our brain, thereby relieving us from the pain and discomfort without any drugs, invasion, or side effects.When to Seek Immediate Medical Attention?
Usually, muscle aches go away in a day or two. However, if it persists or is increasing, restricting your mobility, or developing other symptoms like high fever, vomiting, nausea, chest pain, stiffness in your neck area, breathlessness, difficulty swallowing, or loss of bladder control, you must seek immediate medical care.Tips to Prevent Muscle Pain
We don’t take care of our muscles and joints as we do for our hair, skin, and appearance. Whereas it's they who need more care. So, make sure to:
- Eat healthy and nutritious food for joints and muscles.
- Stay hydrated and intake electrolytes on days when you’re more active.
- Exercise but also rest well.
- Discontinue doing any activity that is putting pressure on your muscles.
- Warm-up before and cool down after exercise.
- Take breaks from prolonged sitting and stretch, move, and relax.
- Wear muscle and joint support while doing heavyweight activities.
- Listen to your body, watch out for signs and seek treatment without any delay.
