Causes of Muscle and Joint Pain

At one time or another, just about everyone experiences some type of muscle and joint pain. The issue may be related to a chronic condition or be caused by some temporary ailment. If you find that you have discomfort that seems to be deep in the muscles or joints and inhibits your range of motion, it’s important to seek help immediately. In many cases, the underlying cause can be eliminated or at least managed effectively. Here are some examples of what could be causing the discomfort. 

Strains During Exercise

Even if you work out regularly, there’s always the possibility of stepping in the wrong direction or bending at an angle that places too much stress on one or more muscle groups. You could also engage in some activity that leads to a fall and some sort of hairline fracture. While you may notice some pain immediately afterward, there’s a good chance of developing more discomfort in the days ahead.

When this type of event is the reason behind your joint or muscle pain, the good news is that it will pass. You do need to seek medical attention and determine the extent of the damage. From there, it’s easier to settle on a course of treatment that ensures the healing can proceed without any complications. It’s possible that you will be out of action for a short time, but the day will come when you can resume your workouts. Assuming you avoid the same mistakes that led to the strain or fracture, there is no reason to think that the same issue will develop again. 

Sports Injuries

You don’t have to be a professional athlete to experience a sports injury. People who participate in community sports are just as likely to injure themselves. Fortunately, using the right equipment helps to minimize the risk, although it won’t eliminate the possibility completely. 

Sports injuries do result in pain. They may involve torn muscles as well as broken or fractured bones. You can bet that until the healing is complete, you will experience some degree of discomfort. Depending on the nature and severity of the injury, you may have to wear a cast, a sling, or something that helps to ease pressure and prevent further stress at the site of the injury. In this scenario, expect to receive something that helps to keep the inflammation at bay and promote healing. Follow the medical instructions to the letter and you have an excellent chance of making a full recovery from mild to moderate sports injuries. 

Bone Cancer

Cancers of all types can develop and metastasize before patients realize what’s happening. This is certainly true with bone cancer. The bone marrow can be endangered well before you notice any signs of weakness or a throbbing sensation that seems to be deep within the bone. You aren’t likely to notice much in the way of soreness in the muscles surrounding the joints where different bones meet until the cancer has reached a certain stage. 

Cancer is nothing to take lightly. Fortunately, survival rates for most forms of cancer have never been higher than they are today. That’s true with bone cancer. If you should experience muscle and joint pain that seems to be settled around a joint and the muscle tissue connected to the area, don’t automatically assume it’s because of cancer. Even so, don’t write it off as a simple muscle pull. See your doctor and find out what’s happening. Treatment at an earlier stage increases the chances of survival significantly. 

Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that affects the musculoskeletal system. Many people with fibromyalgia have days when they experience less pain in the joints and muscles. At other times, the discomfort is much higher. Along with pain in the joints and within the muscles, there is also likely to be some tenderness. People living with this condition are also likely to experience degrees of fatigue that go far beyond feeling worn out at the end of a busy day. 

At present, there is no cure for fibromyalgia. There are treatment and management options that help to lessen the pain and ease the fatigue. Unlike some of the other causes for joint or muscle discomfort, the goal here is to manage the pain as best as possible. Along with medication, changes to the diet and other lifestyle modifications do make a difference. 

Gout

Gout develops when your body’s metabolism is no longer efficient. There is likely to be pain in the extremities, especially in the feet. It’s not unusual to experience swelling and pain in the ankles and the joints of each toe. Swelling as the result of inflammation is also likely to be present. 

As with other medical conditions, the focus is on eliminating the reasons for the gout. In the meantime, you will need to take some type of anti-inflammatory medication to ease the swelling and the general pain. Fluids that do not contain alcohol or sweeteners will help to hydrate the body and help ease the discomfort. You’ll also find that ice placed on the affected area will help with the swelling. The result is that you will begin to notice that it’s easier to move the joint and experience less discomfort. 

Hypothyroidism

Sometimes called low thyroid, hypothyroidism is a condition that can affect children as well as adults. When the thyroid gland begins to underperform, there are physical and mental ramifications. In terms of the physical problems, you may notice there is more soreness and a general sensation of pain in your joints as well as your muscles. 

To ease the muscle and joint pain associated with hypothyroidism, it’s necessary to treat the thyroid itself. In some cases, medication may be necessary to restore the function. When there’s damage to the thyroid gland, the only alternative is to take medication designed to replace what the gland is no longer producing. Doing so alleviates the discomfort and allows you to enjoy a full range of motion once again. As long as you continue to take the medication, the issue with the gland will not trigger any additional discomfort. 

Flu or the Common Cold

Another reason for short-term pain in the joints of muscles has to do with the common cold or developing the flu. While different, these two conditions do share some traits. One of them happens to be inflammation that can make movement somewhat painful. In addition to the sensation of discomfort in the joints, you may also notice some weakness. 

Much of the treatment for both conditions involves easing symptoms until they run their course. With no cure for either, it’s a matter of how long it will take your immune system to bring them under control. You can expect your condition to improve after ten days to two weeks. While you may still feel a little drained, the ache in your bones or muscles will already be subsiding. 

Different Forms of Arthritis

When it comes to reasons for muscle and joint pain, there’s no doubt that different forms of arthritis are at the top of the list. Even the simplest movements become almost impossible to manage. Attempting to raise your arms so you can remove something from a top shelf in a kitchen cabinet may be beyond your ability. Even if you can manage that, the joint pain in your hands make it difficult to grip anything securely enough to lower it to the counter.

There are a number of treatments that may be used. A lot depends on the type of arthritis you’re experiencing. Some type of NSAID is great from helping with the inflammation. Medications designed to ease the pain may also help you move more freely. There are some types of physical therapy that will help you retain a greater range of motion. While it’s true that none of these treatments will make the arthritis go away, managing the symptoms responsibly can slow its progress and allow you to experience less pain. 

Medications

If you did not notice any pain in your joints or your muscles before starting a new medication, there is some chance that it’s the reason for your discomfort. Depending on how your body responds to the medication, you may not notice any pain until you’ve taken it for some time. Even if you started the new drug two or three months ago, it never hurts to find out if it may be the cause of your pain. 

Determining if the new medication is the source of the discomfort requires working closely with your doctor. By eliminating other potential causes, your doctor may determine that the dosage needs to be adjusted or that you should be switched to a medication designed to treat the original ailment. In many cases, you’ll notice that the stiffness and soreness begins to subside in the days and weeks after making the switch. 

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

While CFS is better understood today than in decades past, there is much about this physical ailment that remains to be discovered. What medical professionals do know is that the condition is capable of triggering deep muscle and joint pain that places an additional strain on what already appear to be limited resources. Since people with CFS already feel as if they never get recuperative sleep and that it’s almost impossible to manage many common tasks, it should come as no surprise that the discomfort in the bones and muscles make it all the harder to enjoy a normal life. 

As with all of the symptoms associated with CFS, there are ways to ease the pain in your muscles and joints. Forcing yourself to engage in some type of exercise does make a difference. Using ointments designed to ease inflammation and reduce tension often help to a degree. There is one school of thought that holds the additional vitamins and minerals used to boost the immune system may indirectly ease some of the pain you feel in the joints and muscles. 

Cartilage Loss

The cartilage found between different bones helps to provide cushioning capable of preventing damage to joints. This is true for areas like the elbows, knees, ankles, and even finger joints. When the cartilage wears away, the rubbing of bone on bone can cause a great deal of pain. The resulting inflammation can spread to the muscles and leave you in greater discomfort. 

Surgery designed to replace damaged joints will often result in alleviating the pain. In the meantime, there are also products that help to reduce inflammation and allow you to enjoy a respite from the pain. Your doctor will recommend the best course of treatment based on the severity of cartilage loss. 

Low Calcium Levels

Not everyone understands that calcium can be depleted by stress and a number of environmental factors. If your body does not have an adequate supply of calcium, you may find that your bones begin to weaken. That weakness is often accompanied by some level of discomfort. 

Low calcium can also lead to muscle spasms that are painful on their own. The lingering discomfort after those spasms can also be severer. The combination of muscle and joint pain due to a lack of calcium can leave you with limited mobility. Fortunately replenishing your body’s supply of calcium will go a long way toward recovery and the end of the discomfort. 

A Hormone Imbalance

Any type of hormonal imbalance has the potential to cause problems throughout the body. That includes muscle and joint pain that seem to come from out of nowhere. When tests reveal that your body is no longer producing an adequate supply of one or more hormones, replacement therapy is the only real solution. Keep in mind that it will take some time for the body to respond to the therapy. In the interim, your doctor will provide guidance in how to ease the pain. 

Rheumatic Fever

While rheumatic fever may not be contagious, it does trigger extreme amounts of inflammation and considerable pain in the joints. In many cases, antibiotics will be used to help bring the condition under control. Over-the-counter or prescription strength pain relievers are often included so that you can receive some respite from the inflammation. Since the fever may last for anywhere from six weeks to six months, it’s important to do whatever you can to manage the discomfort and give the body time to recover. 

Get In Touch with Us for More Information

These are only a few of the health issues that can lead to some combination of muscle and joint pain. In order to determine that’s causing your discomfort, arrange for a complete physical examination by making an appointment with Enhanced Wellness Living. Proudly serving residents in the Jackson, Bolton, Brandon, Canton, Clinton, Madison & Vicksburg, Mississippi area at our convenient location in Ridgeland. We can identify the origin of the pain, come up with a plan for treatment, and monitor the response over time. In the best-case scenario, you will soon find it easier to move without feeling any sensation of pain or weakness in the muscles or joints. Contact us today to set up your consultation – we look forward to speaking with you!