Muscle pain

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Are your muscles aching and making it difficult to move? It's important to know that muscle pain is not a disease, but a very common symptom that can be caused by a wide range of conditions, from the most common to the most serious. Severe, prolonged muscle pain can cause stiffness and limited mobility, and can therefore have a major impact on quality of life. Muscle pain can occur in anyone, regardless of age or gender, and can affect just one muscle or all muscles in the body at the same time. It is not always clear whether the pain is in the muscles or the joints, and it is up to the doctor to decide where the pain is coming from.
What are the causes of muscle pain? What can cause constant pain?

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What are the different types of muscle pain?

There are many types of muscle pain. For example, they can be grouped according to the part of the body where the pain occurs. For example, pain in the neck, shoulders and back muscles is common.

Muscle pain can be classified into dull, sharp, shooting, spasmodic and numbing pain. According to its intensity, muscle pain can be mild, moderate or severe. It may also be short-lasting, recurrent or constant and persistent.

Causes of muscle pain

There are many possible causes of muscle pain. Learn about the most common causes:

• Muscle pain caused by exercise and physical exertion can be caused by muscle fever, muscle spasm, muscle strain and muscle tears.
• Falls and other accidents can also cause muscle damage and pain.
• Muscle pain can also be a side effect of some medicines.
• Poor posture and sedentary work upset the harmony of muscle balance. Some muscles can become shortened or overworked as a result, causing muscle pain.
• Muscle pain can also be caused by inflammation, which can be caused by autoimmune disease, circulatory problems and infection.
• Mental stress, such as constant stress, can also trigger muscle pain.
• Inadequate hydration, i.e. dehydration, can lead to muscle cramps and pain.
• Vitamin D deficiency can contribute to muscle weakness and pain.

How is muscle pain diagnosed?

When and which specialist should I see for muscle pain? If the pain is not severe and it is the first time it occurs, you should rest the affected limb or body part for a day or two. You can also use some anti-inflammatory ointment or patches. If the pain goes away in a day or two and doesn't come back, there's nothing to be done, it's probably just a strain on the muscle.

However, if the muscle pain does not go away or returns, it is recommended to rheumatologist or orthopaedic see a specialist. A common question is what is the difference between rheumatology and orthopaedics Between. This can be put simply: the internist for musculoskeletal diseases is the rheumatologist, while the orthopaedic surgeon for musculoskeletal diseases is the orthopaedic surgeon. So rheumatologists look for internal medicine causes rather than, for example, autoimmune diseases. If you're not sure whether to see a rheumatologist or an orthopaedic surgeon with your complaint, give us a call and we'll help you decide which of our colleagues can help you!

The specialist examination starts with taking a medical history. Here the doctor will ask you about your symptoms, when they first started, under what circumstances, whether they are constant, what position and time of day the muscle pain gets worse and what can improve it. Previous illnesses, medical interventions, possible allergies to medicines will also be discussed. The doctor then examines the painful area, checking for any lesions by moving and palpating it. He or she may also order imaging of the soft tissues (ultrasound or MR scan). Once the diagnosis has been made, the specialist will recommend a personalised treatment.

How can muscle pain be treated?

Addressing the underlying cause is essential to relieving muscle pain, and often eliminates or relieves the pain. Treatment is always appropriate to the condition, for example, drug therapy, or sometimes surgery.

Pain relief creams and medicines, physiotherapy, therapeutic massage, warm compresses and rest can help a lot to relieve the symptom itself, i.e. muscle pain. The specialist will recommend a personalised treatment plan, taking into account the patient's condition, abilities, lifestyle and the underlying cause of the muscle pain. In the case of severe muscle pain, the doctor may also suggest the use of injections to reduce pain and inflammation.

It is important to highlight the role of physiotherapy in achieving lasting pain relief. If pain is relieved by painkillers, it is recommended to seek the help of a physiotherapist. Stretching as part of physiotherapy can effectively relieve muscle spasms. If you do not move your muscles for a while because of severe pain, they can quickly become weak and flatten. Strengthening exercises can effectively restore muscle strength. Exercises to improve joint range of motion can also help make movement easier and less painful.

A physiotherapist after a fitness assessment, teach you personalised exercises that you are advised to do on a daily basis. At subsequent sessions, the physiotherapist will adapt the therapy to your progress and teach you new exercises. It is worth persevering, because you can achieve very good results with physiotherapy in a few weeks or a month or two.

How can muscle pain be prevented?

Early diagnosis is the key to preventing severe muscle pain. It is worth finding out what the cause is as soon as possible, because if you know, you can do something about it.

Generally speaking, regular exercise of the right type and amount for your condition can help prevent muscle pain and other musculoskeletal complaints. It is important that if someone already has established pain, they do not start moving that part of their body on their own. Consult a specialist first, as it is very important that the gymnastics is appropriate for the particular lesion.

If you already have a certain amount of muscle pain and you want to prevent it from getting worse, you should be aware that when you start exercising, the pain may first increase and then decrease. When the muscles become flattened, stiff, and you start to mobilise them, there may be pain initially. It is recommended to work through this period with the help of a physiotherapist.

Persistent muscle pain - Why does the aching sensation persist?

Persistent muscle pain (if there is no other clear cause) can also be caused by a condition called fibromyalgia, which is a disorder or overreaction of the central nervous system. In people with this disease, the brain perceives even a mild pain as much more severe, which greatly reduces the patient's quality of life. The same muscle condition would not cause any pain in others, but in people with fibromyalgia it causes constant, even severe muscle pain. Muscle pain may also be accompanied by a constant feeling of fatigue. Fibromyalgia may also be caused by certain illnesses or stress. Muscle pain is usually well controlled with medication and regular relaxation can help.