Sunday, August 23, 2009
Muscle pain , myalgia
Muscle pain
Muscle aches and pains are common and can involve more than one muscle. Muscle pain also can involve ligaments, tendons, and fascia, the soft tissues that connect muscles, bones, and organs. Myalgia means "muscle pain" and is a symptom of many diseases and disorders. The most common causes are the overuse or over-stretching of a muscle or group of muscles. Myalgia without a traumatic history is often due to viral infections. Longer-term myalgias may be indicative of a metabolic myopathy, some nutritional deficiencies or chronic fatigue syndrome. Fibromyalgia is a common condition characterized by long-term, body-wide pain and tender points in joints, muscles, tendons, and other soft tissues. Fibromyalgia has also been linked to fatigue, morning stiffness, sleep problems, headaches, numbness in hands and feet, depression, and anxiety.
Causes
The cause of this disorder is unknown. Physical or emotional trauma may play a role in development of the syndrome. Some evidence suggests that fibromyalgia patients have abnormal pain transmission responses.The person will feel weakness in hands ,neck and legs.
Men and women of all ages get fibromyalgia, but the disorder is most common among women aged 20 to 50.
Injury or trauma including sprains and strains
Overuse: using a muscle too much, too soon, too often
Tension or stress
Muscle pain may also be due to:
Certain drugs, including: ACE inhibitors for lowering blood pressure
Statins for lowering cholesterol
Dermatomyositis
Electrolyte imbalances like too little potassium or calcium
Fibromyalgia
Infections, including:
Influenza (the flu)
Lyme disease
Malaria Muscle abscess
Polio
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Trichinosis (roundworm)
Lupus
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Polymyositis
Rhabdomyoly
Home remedy
Eating a well-balanced diet and avoiding caffeine may help with problems sleeping, and may help reduce the severity of the symptoms. Lifestyle measures to improve the quality of sleep can be effective for fibromyalgia.
Some reports indicate that fish oil, magnesium/malic acid combinations, or vitamins may be effective. Reducing stress and improving coping skills may also help reduce painful symptoms.
Improved fitness through exercise is recommended. Studies have shown that fibromyalgia symptoms can be relieved by aerobic exercise. The best way to begin a fitness program is to start with short sessions of just a few minutes of gentle, low-impact exercises such as walking and swimming. The length of each session can be increased slowly, as tolerated. Attempts at keeping to an exercise program often fail because they are begun too aggressively, with sessions that are too long or too intense. Starting out slowly and gently can help ease you into an effective program you can stick with. Exercise definitely helps myalsia patients.
Starting slowly helps stretch and mobilize tight, sore muscles. High-impact aerobics and weight lifting could cause increased discomfort. Symptoms may be relieved by gentle stretching and light massage…
Treatments could include:
Physical Therapy
Stress Management
Heat Therapy
Regular Exercise
Medication
If the pain persists over a week ,visit a doctor. Don’t take any tablet on your own . Many tablets which treat muscle pain induces side effects such as stomach upset, nausea, or ulcers may be more likely to occur. Many medicines available without a prescription should not be taken . Some medicines can cause ulcers and bleeding in the stomach and intestines at any time during treatment. Ulcers and bleeding can happen without warning symptoms and can cause death. So consult a doctor.