Muscle and Joint Pain

Muscle and joint pain all over the body, is one of the symptoms that is experienced by persons affected with various health conditions. Soreness and pain in the muscles occur when the body does not function properly, due to which the muscles do not respond well and it results in muscle pain. Occasional muscle pain and joint pain should not be misinterpreted as a chronic condition. For example, a person working out regularly and playing sports might experience such pains occasionally. However, it is likely to last only for a day or two and the pain for such small duration is not a cause of concern. Similarly, women can experience muscle and joint pain during their menstrual cycles. This condition may last for a longer duration accompanied with numbness, excessive swelling and other abnormal feelings, requires immediate attention as it could be an indicator of an underlying problem such as muscle tear or ligament damage and if not attended and treated immediately, could possibly worsen the condition. Joint pain with muscle fatigue can cause difficulty in performing daily activities.

Causes of Joint and Muscle Pain

Some of the easily identifiable causes of muscle spasms and joint pain include viral flu, sprain, injury and medication. Muscle and joint pain is naturally expected in such conditions and only if the pain does not substantiate in a few days, it requires attention. However, given below are certain other health conditions in which one experiences muscle aches and joint pain.

Systematic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) - Studies suggest that around 1.5 million Americans have this condition. SLE is one of the most common causes where in the patients experience such pains throughout the course of this illness. SLE, commonly known as lupus, is an autoimmune disease where in the immune system does not function correctly and produces antibodies that attack the healthy tissues causing pain and damage in various part of the body. Muscle cramps and joint pain are one of the symptoms of this disorder and some of the other symptoms include, skin rashes, mouth sores, mild fever and abnormal blood count. If left undiagnosed, it could cause severe damage to the heart, brain, lungs and kidneys.

Arthritis - Rheumatoid arthritis also is one of the common causes of chronic pain in the muscles and joints. A person suffering from arthritis might experience severe pain in the joints as the joints tend to swell and become tender which could also cause intense muscle inflammation that results in this muscle and joint disorder.

Fibromyalgia - It is considered to be either a neuropsychiatric condition or a musculoskeletal disorder. Fibromyalgia is a condition that causes muscle tenderness and widespread pain in the body including joints. Other significant symptoms of this condition include fatigue, sleeping disorders, lack of concentration, tingling and numbness in the arms and legs and headaches.

Hyperthyroidism - Hyperthyroidism affects the skeletal muscles (muscles connected to bones). Muscle pain caused due to hyperthyroidism could experience muscle weakness, muscle cramps and stiffness. Joint pain and stiffness are also caused due to this condition.

Inflammation - Muscle inflammation and joint inflammation also cause muscle and joint pain. Muscle inflammation or myositis can cause pain, swelling and tenderness of muscles resulting in muscle weakness and pain. Joint inflammation is usually caused by infections or autoimmune diseases such as arthritis and it results in severe joint pain.

Someone experiencing severe pain for a fairly long duration should not ignore the condition and must consult a doctor for proper diagnosis so as to ascertain the actual cause Those with excess weight are more prone to be affected by muscle and joint pain, hence, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle with maintaining a balanced diet and regular exercise. This condition can be cured if detected at an early stage and therefore, the symptoms should not be ignored. Ironically, the medication used to relieve inflammation can itself be a cause of joint and muscle pain, so, ensure that you inform the doctor about the intake of such medications to check if it is one of the causes and if it is, then the doctor can prescribe a new medicine instead.