2023-06-13 23:07:53
Definition: what is muscle pain (myalgia)?
Muscle pain, also called myalgia, is a pain affecting one or more muscles, the intensity and duration of which vary.
The myalgia can be caused by intense exertion, trauma, or be associated with an acute or chronic illness. The etiology is generally easier to detect when the pain is localized. Indeed, the causes of diffuse pain are many and varied.
Muscle pain and fatigue on exertion are very common reasons for consultation with the doctor.
What are the different types of muscle pain?
A distinction must be made between muscle pain resulting from physical activity and that occurring at rest.
Physical pain associated with exertion
- body aches are transient pains that appear between 6 and 48 hours following an unusual physical effort. They are transient (they rarely last more than 7 days). They cause pain, loss of strength, and muscle stiffness. Aches cause an inflammatory reaction of the muscle tissue causing diffuse cellular microlesions. They are not serious, resulting from a physiological process adaptive to physical effort.
- The cramps are involuntary and transient contractions of the muscle that are particularly painful. They are more common in athletes, favored by physical effort and dehydration. The cramps often reach the muscle you molet. They usually yield with a stretch of a few seconds.
- Contractures correspond to prolonged and painful involuntary contractions of a muscle. Contractures can occur at rest, but in the majority of cases, they are the result of physical exertion, trauma (fall, false movement, etc.) or even associated with muscle damage (strain, tear).
- Elongations are a severe form of contracture: the muscle fibers are torn. The stretching of the muscle and its contraction are then particularly painful. Elongation occurs during a sudden effort with an eccentric contraction mechanism (ie when the muscle contracts while it is being stretched).
- muscle tears (strains) correspond to a partial rupture of a muscle and its envelope. The pain, initially violent, brutal, becomes deaf and permanent. The strain is a very common accident among athletes. It is most often linked to a violent and rapid contraction or a shock on a contracted muscle.
- muscle ruptures or complete musculotendinous ruptures are a severe form of strain that most often leaves long-term sequelae. They are characterized by a total tearing of the muscle and its tendon.
Muscle pain at rest
- Spasms correspond to sudden muscle contractions that can be prolonged. They are a symptom of muscle fatigue, dehydration, lack of recovery or stretching. They often affect the postural muscles (which extend from the thorax to the lower part of the pelvis). Thetorticollis is sustained pain in the neck due to a muscle spasm that prevents the person from turning their head in one direction and tilting it in the opposite direction.
- Les myoclonies are muscle twitches (comparable to a startle) that are brief (less than a second), involuntary, sudden and abrupt. They can be symptomatic of a neurological disease or secondary to taking certain medications. Sometimes they are unexplained and non-pathological.
- Spontaneous myalgia correspond to painful sensations, felt at the level of a muscle without any effort. They have no known cause. They can sometimes occur at night.
What causes muscle pain?
Muscle pain can be the result of:
- of one intense and/or unusual muscular effort ;
- of one feverish state or great fatigue (asthenia);
- of one acute or chronic illness. It may be an infection (such as flucovid-19, shingles) or a systemic autoimmune or inflammatory disease (such as systemic lupus erythematosus, Lyme disease, rheumatoid arthritis, polyneuritis, polymyalgia rheumatica or polymyalgia rheumatica, etc.);
- of one metabolic disorder (such as diabetes) or hormonal (such as a thyroid disorder, premenstrual syndrome, etc.);
- of deficiencies (in vitamins or minerals such as magnesium, calcium, potassium, etc.);
- of one neurological disease (such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, etc.);
- of one myopathy or muscular dystrophy (such as Duchenne’s disease);
- of one intoxication ;
- of one hypoxia (decrease in the amount of oxygen in the blood);
- of one dehydration ;
- of one fibromyalgia ;
- of one exercise intolerance syndrome which results in symptoms triggered by physical effort: muscle pain, cramps, intermittent claudication, fatigue, motor deficit, myoglobinuria (dark urine), muscle swelling;
- of one withdrawal syndrome (alcohol, narcotics or medication);
- from taking certain medications (statins, quinolones, glucocorticoids, etc.).
Fibromyalgia: what is it? Why do I hurt all over?
Thefibromyalgia is a form of diffuse chronic pain that affects nearly 1.6% of the population. The disease can appear at any age affecting both men and women. To date, the causes of fibromyalgia are unclear.
Generally the pain resembles throbbing and throbbing muscle aches in various parts of the body. Some patients also describe painful attacks triggered by stress or intensive physical/intellectual activity. The evolution takes place over several years with, alternately, periods of aggravation, stability and appeasement.
The treatment is essentially symptomatic, consisting above all in relieving the pain.
What are the symptoms of myalgia?
Symptoms of muscle pain vary depending on the nature of the pain. It might be :
- stitches;
- d’enumbness or tingling (paraesthesia);
- of one muscle stiffness ;
- of burning sensations ;
- sudden pains like “ dumps electric » or of “ stabbing » ;
- a discomfort in the execution of movements ;
- of the involuntary muscle movements (spasms or myoclonus).
Joint or muscle pain: how to tell the difference?
Muscle pain should not be confused with joint pain.
- The muscle pain is generally acute, more often consecutive to an effort, a false movement or a shock. It can be reduced when the muscle is “hot” (following movement). It can be triggered when the muscle is stretched.
- The articular pain (linked to joint overuse, osteoarthritis or arthritis) is most often chronic or recurrent. It can be triggered at rest (especially in the case of inflammatory disease). It is aggravated by movement or weight bearing.
When to worry regarding muscle pain?
It is best to see a doctor if the pain:
- persists for several days;
- sleep disturbance;
- is accompanied by fever, intense fatigue, headache, tremors or other general signs;
- prevents the patient from moving properly;
- accompanied by signs of inflammation.
After a clinical examination, the doctor may prescribe various additional examinations such as ultrasound or even a blood test ofCPK (creatine phosphokinases) which are sometimes increased in case of inflammation.
Muscle inflammation: a serious sign
Inflammation is a serious sign of muscle pain. It shows a more or less severe muscle lesion. The muscle is therefore affected following a torsion, a tension or a shock.
Inflammation is recognized by the appearance of certain signs such as:
- a feeling of warmth;
- sometimes intense pain;
- edema (swelling, swelling) of the affected area;
- redness at the wound.
Treatment: how to relieve muscle pain?
In the vast majority of cases, the treatment of muscular pains such as body aches only requires repossometimes accompanied by physiotherapy sessions.
L’application of heat or, on the contrary, cold (ice packs) can sometimes help relieve pain.
others local treatments can help relieve muscle pain par massage of the painful area without a medical prescription. These preparations contain various substances: non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or salicylates for their analgesic effect, camphor, eucalyptus, arnica or menthol for the revulsive effect (causing a feeling of heat), muscle relaxants.
In more advanced cases (as in the case of contracture or even breakdown), the doctor may prescribe oral painkillers (paracetamol, codeine paracetamol, ibuprofen, etc.) or relaxants.
Apart from myalgia related to physical effort, by treating the cause, the pain disappears. For example, muscle pain due to flu syndrome resolves spontaneously, without treatment.
Complementary treatments
L’electrostimulationTHE thermothérapies, the lymphatic drainage and the compression socks are part of the different complementary methods of a good recovery by limiting aches.
In the event of a muscle tear, ultrasound sessions (vibrations of the same nature as sound waves, which reduce inflammation and improve blood circulation), the cryotherapy(cold treatment that reduces pain and reduces swelling) and balneotherapy (baths) can also be used.
How to avoid muscle pain and fatigue?
In order to prevent any recurrence, and to preserve the muscles, some precautions can be taken;
- practicing a warm-up before each sports session;
- carrying out stretching at the end of the activity;
- adopting a trainingprogressive intensity ;
- equipping themselves correctly during a sporting activity (for example by obtaining the suitable footwear) ;
- respecting a sufficient recovery time between two sessions;
- adopting good eating habits;
- having adequate sleep;
- making sure to maintain sufficient hydration.
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