The diseases and conditions that can cause them are particularly numerous, and in some cases, it’s not always easy for a doctor to make a diagnosis. In many cases, the cause of muscle pain is a mild or moderate disorder that resolves within a few days with simple rest. In other cases, the underlying problem is more serious and not always easy to treat, especially when chronic.
Muscle discomfort isn’t always caused by a medical condition; even intense physical activity and/or strenuous workouts can cause muscle pain.
Treatments obviously vary depending on the severity of the disorder and its underlying cause; for example, they range from massage for muscle pain caused by physical activity, to acupuncture to relieve the symptoms of fibromyalgia , to anti-inflammatories for muscle pain caused by rheumatic diseases, and so on.
It’s always the doctor who decides the appropriate treatment based on the diagnosis, which, in more complex cases, may require laboratory tests and/or instrumental tests (ultrasound, MRI, etc.). Very often, however, it’s quite easy to identify the cause, as for example when you perform an unfamiliar, intense physical effort and the next day you experience widespread muscle pain; a little rest is usually enough to return to normal.
Muscle pain: what diseases and conditions are they most commonly associated with?
In many cases, muscle pain is related to intense physical activity, such as a medium- or long-distance run or a game of soccer. Those who aren’t trained for exercise are especially likely to experience muscle soreness.
In other cases, the problem is due to systemic illnesses , such as influenza , which causes widespread muscle pain. Muscle pain related to trauma or injury is also common.
Some rheumatic diseases such as polymyositis and rheumatoid arthritis also cause muscle pain.
Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes chronic muscle pain ; it is also known as fibromyalgia syndrome and is characterized by a variety of symptoms: chronic, widespread muscle pain often associated with other problems such as sleep disturbances, severe fatigue, etc.; its cause has not yet been definitively determined.
Muscle pain can also be linked to more serious muscle diseases such as myasthenia gravis, muscular dystrophies, myopathies, but also to tumors (such as sarcomas), spinal problems (scoliosis, kyphosis, etc.), or the use of certain medications ; statins, for example, used to treat arterial hypertension (high blood pressure), include muscle pain among their side effects.
What are the main remedies for muscle pain?
As mentioned above, remedies for muscle pain vary depending on the underlying cause.
The use of drugs is not always necessary.
For muscle pain from intense physical activity that isn’t associated with injury, rest, massage, or cryotherapy (ice application) are usually sufficient. Warm baths can also help relax muscles and relieve pain.
In the case of chronic conditions such as fibromyalgia , your doctor may recommend using methods such as acupuncture, a practice that generally does not present any particular side effects, possibly combined with other types of intervention.
In the case of some rheumatic diseases , such as rheumatoid arthritis, specific drug treatments are usually prescribed.
As for muscle pain caused by trauma and injuries , there are various types of interventions: from bandaging, to the use of painkillers/anti-inflammatories such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), to the use of cryotherapy, massage therapy, etc.
When it comes to muscle pain caused by prolonged incorrect posture , such as can occur in certain professions, it is important to learn the correct posture combined with moments in which you briefly interrupt your work to stretch your muscles or perform gentle stretching exercises.
In general, regular physical activity is helpful in preventing or alleviating muscle pain.
