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Muscle aches, also known as myalgia, are extremely common. Almost everybody experiences muscle discomfort because there are tissues all over your body. People feel muscle pain in a lot of body parts.
However, there are no single causes for muscle pains and aches. While injury or overwork is common, there are other possible reasons for ongoing pain and discomfort.
What are the usual causes of muscle pain?
Most of the time, people who have experienced muscle pains can easily spot the cause. It is because most myalgia condition results from too much tension, stress, and physical activity. Other common causes also include:
- overusing the muscle while performing physical activities
- muscle tension one two or more areas of the body
- muscle injury while doing demanding exercises or work
- skipping cooldowns and warmups before performing tasks
What are the types of medical diseases that can cause muscle pain?
Not all muscle pains are related to physical activities, stress, and tension. Some medical evaluation for myalgia includes:
- chronic fatigue syndrome or CFS, a condition from extreme tiredness and fatigue that is not quickly going away even with rest
- fibromyalgia, an often misdiagnosed condition, especially when pains and aches last longer than three months
- infections like polio, flu, and bacterial infections
- myofascial pain syndrome that causes inflammation in fascia or the muscular connective tissues
- autoimmune diseases like dermatomyositis, lupus, and polymyositis
- the use of drugs or medications like cocaine, statins, and ACE inhibitors
- hypokalemia, or when the blood’s potassium levels get too low
- thyroid problems like hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism
How to ease muscle pains and aches at home?
Muscle pains primarily respond well to home treatment. Below are essential measures you can take to relieve discomfort in your muscles from overusing it or injuries.
- resting the part of the body where you experience most pains and aches
- taking over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen
- applying ice to the affected part to reduce inflammation and relieve pain
You can use the ice method for one to three days following a sprain or strain and apply a heating method for any pain that stays after three days.
Other measures you might consider that also provide muscle pain relief includes:
- safely stretching the muscles
- avoiding extreme activities until the pain from the muscles go away
- avoiding weight lifting routines until the pain from the
- muscles have been resolved
- giving enough time for yourself to rest
- performing stress-relieving exercises and activities like meditation and yoga to relieve muscle tension
How long does a muscle strain last?
You can go back to your usual activities within 3 to 6 weeks for a mild to moderate strain muscle if you perform the essential homecare and the pain goes away. But, for more serious muscle issues and strains, the recovery can take several weeks or months. In some cases, physical therapy and surgical repair are necessary. As long as you have the right treatment and proper medication required, patients with muscle strain can recover fully in no time.
To speed up muscle recovery, below are some crucial points to consider.
- drink water and keep yourself hydrated all the time
- do not forget to grab post-workout snacks
- warmup your body before plunging into resistance training
- foam stretch and roll
- elevate your legs if possible to relax
- take a cool bath
- do not skip your rest days; rest as much as you can
- keep moving to help keep the blood circulation throughout your body
- listen to your body
When is the right time to visit a doctor about muscle pain?
Muscle pains and aches are not always harmful, and in some cases, home treatment is not enough to resolve the underlying causes. Myalgia can also be a symptom of something severely wrong in your body.
You must take time to see your healthcare provider for:
- pain that doesn’t quickly go away, even after performing home treatment for a few days
- severe muscle pain that occurs without a precise and exact cause
- muscle aches that exist along with rashes
- muscle aches that exist after a tick bite
- myalgia along with swelling and redness
- pain that emerges soon after you change your medication
- pain that comes out with an elevated temperature
The following can be a symptom of medical alertness and emergency. You must get to the nearby hospital immediately if you experience any of the following.
- an unexpected and sudden reduction in urine volume or onset of water retention
- inability to swallow liquids or food with ease
- running a fever and vomiting
- trouble catching your breath
- neck stiffness
- weak muscles
- failure to do movements at the affected body area
What are the tips to prevent sore muscles?
If muscle aches and pains are caused by physical activities or tension, you can take these measures to lessen the risk of developing muscle aches in the future.
stretch your joints and muscles before performing any physical activities like workouts
incorporate a cooldown or warmup into all of your exercise routines like five times each
stay hydrated, especially on those days that you are active and performing extreme works
consider doing regular exercise to develop optimal muscle tone
get up from what you have been doing and stretch for a while or in between works, primarily if you spend more hours sitting, which puts you at risk for muscle tension and strain.
Final Thought
Occasional muscle pains and aches are typical, and it’s a common condition in some cases, especially if you are new to performing exercises or activities.
It is important to listen to your body, and if it tells you to stop, you must do it to prevent your muscle from hurting. Take it easy when doing your activities to avoid injuries.
If there are other reasons for your sore muscles, you might seek medical advice from your doctor or get a proper assessment from chiropractors too. They are the best people who can provide you with the right solution to resolve your muscle pains and aches completely. Of course, the primary goal is to treat the main condition and its symptoms. Proper medication is needed if the muscle pain doesn’t go away after doing homecare remedies and rest.