Myalgia Treatment

Myalgia is the medical term for muscle pain, which can be associated with numerous conditions, right from overuse of muscles or injury, to some serious underlying health problems. Usually mild muscle pain that subsides within a day or two is not related with any major health problem. But, prolonged muscle pain or myalgia could be a sign of certain diseases or disorders. Its treatment depends on several factors such as, the underlying causes, as well as the severity of the pain.

Causes of Myalgia

As mentioned already, it can be caused by a wide range of factors, but more commonly it is associated with the overuse of muscle or a group of muscles, and injury or trauma like, sprains and strains. Other than traumatic injury, viral infections like, flu or influenza and electrolyte imbalance are some of the most common causes. Many a time, muscle pain or myalgia can also be caused by certain drugs like, ACE inhibitors, statins and cocaine.

It that lasts for a considerable period of time may be associated with conditions like, malaria, dermatomyositis, lyme disease, fibromyalgia, polymyositis, myositis, polymyalgia rheumatica, lupus disease, trichinosis, muscle abscess, rhabdomyolysis, dengue fever, polio, 'Rocky Mountain spotted fever', HIV/AIDS and chronic fatigue syndrome. Sometimes, muscle pain could be associated with withdrawal of alcohol and drugs like, opioids, barbiturates and benzodiazepines as well.

Myalgia Symptoms

The most common symptom is pain or muscle soreness. Some other symptoms that can be experienced are, tingling and numbness of the affected muscles, swelling and redness. It can affect muscles of the various parts of the body and accordingly, its symptoms can vary to an extent. When it affects the muscles of the cervical region, it can cause headaches and heaviness of the head, along with muscle pain. Sometimes, it can also restrict the movement of the neck. If it affects the heart muscles, then it can produce symptoms like, irregular heartbeat. Such a condition can put an individual at an increased risk of cardiac arrest and bone fractures. Respiratory problems like, breathing difficulty can also be experienced due to myalgia, if it affects the muscles of the respiratory system.

How to Treat Myalgia?

It can be treated after ascertaining the underlying causes. If it is caused by factors like, overuse of muscles and injury or trauma, then application of hot and cold packs can provide significant relief. Muscle pain can also be reduced by massaging the affected muscles with gentle strokes. Massage is an effective option for treatment. It can help to reduce the muscle pain associated with fibromyalgia as well. However, if the affected muscles are too painful to be relieved by these home remedies, then pain killers and non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications like, acetaminophen and ibuprofen may be required. Muscle relaxers can also be used for the treatment of this condition.

Another effective way to treat myalgia caused by physical inactivity, as well as conditions like, fibromyalgia is to exercise regularly. Proper stretching and aerobic exercises can help to tone up and strengthen the muscles of the body, and prevent its future episodes. Exercises can also increase flexibility of the muscles to prevent frequent muscle sprains or strains. Warm bath is another simple and effective option available for muscle pain relief. Along with these, you can talk to your physician about physical therapy for the long term management of muscle pain. If it is caused by a disease or disorder, then it can be alleviated by treating that underlying condition.

It is usually not caused by any major health problem, especially if the pain resolves within a day or two. But, if the pain persists for more than 3 days, and is quite severe and accompanied by some other symptoms like, swelling, redness, stiff neck and high grade fever, then it is important to seek medical attention for proper treatment. This will also help to rule out any serious disease or disorder.