Myalgia
Myalgia is the medical term for muscle pain. It’s a common complaint in people of all ages. Daily life stress or tension to more debilitating health conditions can all cause muscle pain and affect your quality of life. Myalgia is often due to muscle injury, overuse, or tension. The pain is generally temporary, but conditions like lupus or fibromyalgia may cause chronic (long-term) muscle pain that needs ongoing treatment.
Types Of Myalgia :
There are two main forms of myalgia, including:
- Localized Myalgia: Pain that occurs in specific muscles or muscle groups. This type often occurs due to muscle overuse, injury, tension, or infection. As the muscle(s) heals, the pain typically goes away.
- Diffuse Myalgia: Pain that occurs and spreads throughout the body. Systemic (body-wide) infections like the flu or COVID-19 can cause temporary diffuse muscle pain. Chronic conditions like lupus, thyroid disease, or liver disease can cause chronic pain.
Causes :
Myalgia has many potential causes, and it can affect more than just the muscles. Myalgia may affect ligaments, tendons, and fascia (connective tissue) as well. The most common causes of myalgia include:
- Muscle injury, strain, or overuse
- Emotional stress and tension that manifests physically
- Viral or bacterial infections like the flu or Lyme disease
- Certain medications like statins (to lower cholesterol) or ACE inhibitors (to lower blood pressure)
- Fibromyalgia (a chronic condition that causes musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, and sleep problems)
- Rheumatic conditions that affect the muscles, joints, and bones such as osteoarthritis (OA) or inflammatory myopathy (chronic muscle inflammation)
- Liver diseases like hepatitis (inflammation) and cirrhosis (scarring)
- Endocrine conditions such as thyroid disease or adrenal insufficiency
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Autoimmune disorders like lupus or multiple sclerosis
Symptoms :
Pain in one or more muscles is the primary symptom of myalgia. Depending on the cause of your pain and what part of your body is affected, the pain can develop suddenly or gradually. How long your pain lasts (temporary or chronic) will also be determined by the underlying cause of your symptoms. Alongside pain, the most common symptoms of myalgia include:
- Stiffness
- Tenderness
- Muscle weakness
- Cramping
- Redness or swelling around the muscle
- Aching, burning, and throbbing sensations
Treatment :
- Snehana (Abhyanga)
- Swedana
- Virechana