If you have muscle pain related to muscle function, it is called Myalgia (in medical terms). It can be short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic) based on the cause. However, timely treatment can improve your pain and muscle function. Learn what causes acute and chronic myalgia and the available treatment options in this article. Visit the best Pain Management Clinic in Brooklyn at Doral Health & Wellness or log on to www.doralhw.org.
Causes Of Myalgia
Myalgia can have many causes that lead to acute and chronic myalgia.
- Acute myalgia: Acute myalgia is a short-lived and easily manageable pain that mostly occurs from exercise and muscle exertion. You may also develop acute myalgia as a main symptom of the following conditions:
- Injury or overuse: This type of muscle pain is localized and often affects some muscles and a small area of the body.
- Influenza: Muscle soreness is a common sign of many infections, especially with the flu.
- Lyme disease: This tick-borne disease causes flu-like symptoms, which can include muscle pain.
- Vitamin and mineral deficiencies: Several vitamin and mineral deficiencies cause muscle pain, such as vitamin D and potassium deficiencies.
In some cases, acute myalgia also occurs as a side effect of some medications. Recognizing those signs earlier helps to switch medicine to manage the condition before it gets worse. Medications like statins, glucocorticoids, immunologic drugs, and antimicrobials cause myopathies or diseases that affect muscle tissue. And the sudden stopping of high doses of medications also triggers myalgia. The same applies to opioids, benzodiazepines, caffeine, and alcohol.
- Chronic myalgia:
This condition typically has the main symptom of muscle and bone conditions, along with autoimmune diseases. Some of the common causes are:
- Fibromyalgia: This condition causes symptoms such as widespread throbbing, shooting, and stabbing muscle pain.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA): It causes inflammation in joints, which also spreads to muscles and causes pain in them.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS): This condition causes muscle pain, stiffness, and involuntary muscle spasms as its common symptoms.
- Depression: Depression can trigger emotional and physical symptoms, which include unexplained muscle aches and pains.
It is also caused by multiple diseases or can be triggered in response to certain situations, like trauma.
Treatment For Mialgia
Myalgia treatments depend on the cause and type of myalgia (acute and chronic). Typically, at-home treatment should be tried first to get some relief from muscle pain. If the pain is chronic or accompanied by other symptoms, physical therapy or medications may be recommended.
For acute myalgia, mostly home remedies are used to treat the muscle pain, which include the following:
- Take rest
- Take over the counter (OTC) pain relievers such as ibuprofen or Tylenol.
- Use cold or hot therapy to lower swelling and relieve pain
- Gently stretch your muscles
- Avoid performing high-impact activity until the pain gets better
- Doing stress relief exercises, like yoga and meditation, to relieve muscle tension
For chronic myalgia, physical therapy is recommended to treat the symptoms. It helps to enhance flexibility in sore muscles and strengthen the surrounding tissues. A therapist also helps you find ways to manage stress and focus your posture on the job and at home. Improving posture at the workplace and in the home environment can lower the risk of injury or harm.
In addition to physical therapy, your doctor may prescribe OTC pain relievers or drugs to manage your pain. Sometimes, pain medications and anti-inflammatory drugs are directly injected into a sore area to decrease pain. If fibromyalgia causes your pain, these prescribed medications can improve your symptoms, such as anti-seizure medications like Lyrica and antidepressants like Cymbalta, which change your body’s response to pain. For autoimmune diseases, treatment focuses on the cause of the condition, which may involve medications such as corticosteroids, which lower inflammation.
When to see a specialist?
You should see a specialist for myalgia if you see any of the following signs:
- You are having severe pain, redness, or swelling without any known cause
- Your pain doesn’t go away on its own after several days of home treatment
- You have other symptoms of illness, like fever or fatigue, that last more than a week.
- You are bitten by a tick
- Your pain doesn’t get better even after using over-the-counter pain relievers
In rare cases, myalgia can be a sign of a medical emergency. If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms along with muscle aches, seek immediate medical care:
- Water retention or lower urine output
- Trouble breathing
- Problem swallowing
- Vomiting
- High fever
- Weak muscles
- Paralysis
- Neck stiffness
Myalgia and muscle pain can be acute and chronic based on their causes. However, with proper treatment, you can manage this condition and live a better life.
Need help with myalgia pain? Visit our pain management clinic in Brooklyn to get professional medical help. Call us to book your appointment now!!! If you’re ready to take the next step in managing your pain, we recommend consulting with our healthcare provider to explore the right treatments or therapies for you. Always listen to your body and adjust your daily routine to prioritize your well-being.
Visit Doral Health & Wellness Pain Relief Department in Brooklyn, to get professional help and guidance on how to manage your problem. Call us on +1-718-367-2555to get a consultation. If you need help learning coping methods, register your information and make direct contact with our doctors at https://yuz88hfiyh7.typeform.com/Doralintake. Log on to www.doralhw.org. Or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11212.
