What is Myalgia?

What is myalgia? Or rather, myositis? It is pain in a muscle or group of muscles. The term is derived from the Greek word myos, implying muscle and algos implying pain. This muscle pain can get triggered due to muscle strain or over-stretching of the muscle or multiple muscles. Sometimes, viral infections, such as influenza, HIV, herpes, and enteroviruses can also lead to myalgia.

It is observed as 2 types, namely, polymyalgia and epidemic myalgia. The latter, also referred to as bornholm disease, is a viral infection producing acute muscle pain. The former, also known as polymyalgia rheumatica, leads to pain and stiffness of a group of muscles and joints impacting both sides of the body including the neck and shoulders. It is most commonly observed in older people. (50+ years of age).

Fibromyalgia is another type in which a person feels acute pain even on slight touching of certain points, called tender points. These points exist mainly in the knees, elbows, neck, and hip joints. Trapezius myalgia causes long-lasting neck pain triggered due to trapezius muscle troubles. Eosinophilia - myalgia syndrome, is an ailment causing inflammation of the skin and tissues underneath, called fascia.

The most common causes are stress, overuse, or physical damage of muscles due to compulsive exercise, and wrenching of ligaments or strenuous physical work. Fibromyalgia also causes widespread pain in the muscles and ligaments accompanied with weariness and pain even after slightly touching the tender points.

Certain drugs, such as ACE inhibitors, cocaine, and statin can trigger this condition. It is a sign of several disorders such as fibromyalgia, malaria, influenza, leptospirosis, hemorrhagic fever, polio, rocky mountain spotted fever, trichinosis, lupus, rhabdomyolysis, polymyositis, etc.

The most common symptoms include severe muscle pain prevailing beyond a period of 3 days. The person experiences acute aches in the shoulders, buttocks, lower back, thighs, hips, and neck in case of polymyalgia rheumatica. The affected areas become stiff after elongated inactivity. The movement gets restricted in the areas struck by pain.

Initially, general symptoms, such as weariness, mild sickness, depression, and food aversion are commonly observed. The person suffering with epidemic myalgia complains of acute lower chest pain on one side. This is the differentiating symptom of epidemic myalgia.

Difficulty in breathing, and sometimes, fever and headache are also witnessed. Signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia comprise nausea, stiffness, vertigo, anxiety, depression, dysmenorrhea.

Eosinophilia myalgia syndrome patients show initial signs, like increased eosinophil count, long-lasting pain in muscle tissues, lack of sensation, weakness, compression of muscles, tremors, and burning aches.

Few of the later symptoms include amnesia, cardiomyopathy, excessive development of fibrous tissues leading to pain and fracture, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, chronic fatigue syndrome, and impaired vision.

The key to alleviate myangial pain lies in timely treatment. So, consult your doctor immediately when you spot the symptoms discussed. There is no 'one cure fits all' remedy for the condition. But, simple tips that can be followed include gentle exercises, building a routine for walking and gradually increasing it to about half an hour a day and swimming.

Moreover, following a proper diet (low carbohydrate, high protein diet), a warm pad on muscles and joints suffering from the pain, acupuncture to reduce symptoms, and a massage to accelerate blood circulation in the affected muscles can also help.

The most important thing to remember is, seek your doctor's advice and initiate timely treatment to keep away from this condition.

Disclaimer: This Story is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.