Muscle Pain - Causes - Symptoms - Diagnosis - Treatment - Pain Relief
Information on muscle pain, arthritis, conditions, causes, diagnosis, symptoms, prevention, pain relief and treatment options. Most muscle pain is due to tension or overuse. Muscle pain is a sign and symptom of many rheumatic conditions including: lupus, mixed connective tissue disease, fibromyalgia, polymyalgia rheumatica, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and Lyme disease.
Fibromyalgia Screening Quiz
Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose. Combinations of symptoms can occur which overlap with other autoimmune diseases. There are symptoms which are considered "defining" of fibromyalgia. There are also symptoms considered "non-defining" but they often occur as part of fibromyalgia syndrome. Take our Fibromyalgia Screening Quiz.
Fibromyalgia is difficult to diagnose. Combinations of symptoms can occur which overlap with other autoimmune diseases. There are symptoms which are considered "defining" of fibromyalgia. There are also symptoms considered "non-defining" but they often occur as part of fibromyalgia syndrome. Take our Fibromyalgia Screening Quiz.
Lupus Screening Quiz
People with lupus produce abnormal antibodies in their blood which target tissues within their own body. Lupus is one of the autoimmune diseases. The chronic inflammation which is associated with this condition can affect the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and nervous system.
People with lupus produce abnormal antibodies in their blood which target tissues within their own body. Lupus is one of the autoimmune diseases. The chronic inflammation which is associated with this condition can affect the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and nervous system.
Muscle Relaxers And Arthritis - When Are Muscle Relaxers Prescribed For Arthritis Patients?
When are muscle relaxers appropriately prescribed for arthritis patients? How do muscle relaxers work? Are muscle relaxers a short-term treatment or can they be part of a long-term maintenance regimen for arthritis patients to control aches and pains?
When are muscle relaxers appropriately prescribed for arthritis patients? How do muscle relaxers work? Are muscle relaxers a short-term treatment or can they be part of a long-term maintenance regimen for arthritis patients to control aches and pains?
The Pain Quiz - Acute vs. Chronic Pain
There's more to know about pain than the fact that it hurts. Do you know the difference between acute and chronic pain? Do men and women respond to pain differently? How many older people take a painkiller on a regular basis? What is R.I.C.E.? Are there any non-drug pain relievers? How much do you know about pain?
There's more to know about pain than the fact that it hurts. Do you know the difference between acute and chronic pain? Do men and women respond to pain differently? How many older people take a painkiller on a regular basis? What is R.I.C.E.? Are there any non-drug pain relievers? How much do you know about pain?
The Pain Relief Quiz
How much do you know about relieving pain? Pain serves as the signal that something is wrong in the body. There are many pain relieving techniques which can be tried. Do you know about the various pain treatment options? Take the Pain Relief Quiz.
How much do you know about relieving pain? Pain serves as the signal that something is wrong in the body. There are many pain relieving techniques which can be tried. Do you know about the various pain treatment options? Take the Pain Relief Quiz.
Muscle Aches and Pains
Muscle aches and pains are common and can involve more than one muscle. Muscle pain also can involve the soft tissues that surround muscles. These connective tissues include ligaments, tendons, and fascia (thick bands of tendons).
Muscle aches and pains are common and can involve more than one muscle. Muscle pain also can involve the soft tissues that surround muscles. These connective tissues include ligaments, tendons, and fascia (thick bands of tendons).
Myositis
Myositis is an inflammation or swelling of the voluntary (skeletal) muscles, often caused by injury or infection.
Myositis is an inflammation or swelling of the voluntary (skeletal) muscles, often caused by injury or infection.
Muscle Pain
Muscle pain is most frequently related to tension, overuse, or muscle injury from exercise or physically demanding work. Muscle aches and pains are common and can involve more than one muscle at the same time. Muscle pain can also involve the soft tissues that surround muscle
Muscle pain is most frequently related to tension, overuse, or muscle injury from exercise or physically demanding work. Muscle aches and pains are common and can involve more than one muscle at the same time. Muscle pain can also involve the soft tissues that surround muscle
Fibromyalgia - Test Your Knowledge
Fibromyalgia is often regarded as a medical enigma. Symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome can overlap with other conditions making it difficult to diagnose. How much do you know about fibromyalgia? Take this quiz.
Fibromyalgia is often regarded as a medical enigma. Symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome can overlap with other conditions making it difficult to diagnose. How much do you know about fibromyalgia? Take this quiz.
Muscular Atrophy
Muscular atrophy is the decrease in size and wasting of muscle tissue. Muscles that lose their nerve supply can atrophy and simply waste away
Muscular atrophy is the decrease in size and wasting of muscle tissue. Muscles that lose their nerve supply can atrophy and simply waste away
Peripheral neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is failure of the nerves that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord. This produces symptoms like pain, loss of sensation, and inability to control muscles.
Peripheral neuropathy is failure of the nerves that carry information to and from the brain and spinal cord. This produces symptoms like pain, loss of sensation, and inability to control muscles.
Electrolytes
Electrolytes exist in the blood as acids, bases, and salts (such as sodium, calcium, potassium, chlorine, magnesium, and bicarbonate) and can be measured by laboratory studies of the blood serum.
Electrolytes exist in the blood as acids, bases, and salts (such as sodium, calcium, potassium, chlorine, magnesium, and bicarbonate) and can be measured by laboratory studies of the blood serum.
Charley horse
A charley horse is the common name for a muscle spasm, particularly in the leg. Muscle spasms can occur in any muscle in the body. When a muscle is in spasm, it contracts involuntarily and does not relax.
A charley horse is the common name for a muscle spasm, particularly in the leg. Muscle spasms can occur in any muscle in the body. When a muscle is in spasm, it contracts involuntarily and does not relax.
Polymyositis
Polymyositis is a systemic connective tissue disease characterized by inflammation and degeneration of the muscles.
Polymyositis is a systemic connective tissue disease characterized by inflammation and degeneration of the muscles.
How To Recognize the Signs of Fibromyalgia
The symptoms of fibromyalgia can overlap with autoimmune diseases and other musculoskeletal conditions making it difficult to diagnose. Everyone knows the syndrome involves muscle pain and tender points. It's much more complex however. It is estimated that fibromyalgia affects about 2 percent of the U.S. population.
The symptoms of fibromyalgia can overlap with autoimmune diseases and other musculoskeletal conditions making it difficult to diagnose. Everyone knows the syndrome involves muscle pain and tender points. It's much more complex however. It is estimated that fibromyalgia affects about 2 percent of the U.S. population.
Superficial Anterior Muscles
Superficial muscles are close to the surface of the skin. Muscles which lie closer to bone or internal organs are called deep muscles.
Superficial muscles are close to the surface of the skin. Muscles which lie closer to bone or internal organs are called deep muscles.
Muscle twitching (Muscle fasciculation)
Muscle twitches are fine movements of a small area of muscle. Muscle twitching is the result of minor local muscle contractions or the uncontrollable twitching of a single muscle group served by a single motor nerve fiber or filament.
Muscle twitches are fine movements of a small area of muscle. Muscle twitching is the result of minor local muscle contractions or the uncontrollable twitching of a single muscle group served by a single motor nerve fiber or filament.
Muscle Weakness
Weakness may be subjective (the person feels weak, but has no measurable loss of strength) or objective (measurable loss of strength as noted in a physical exam). Weakness may be generalized (total body weakness) or localized to a specific area, side of the body, limb, or muscle.
Weakness may be subjective (the person feels weak, but has no measurable loss of strength) or objective (measurable loss of strength as noted in a physical exam). Weakness may be generalized (total body weakness) or localized to a specific area, side of the body, limb, or muscle.
Muscle Cramps - "Charley Horse"
A muscle cramp is a sudden, uncontrolled contraction of a muscle. This type of pain is most commonly experienced in the legs, and therefore often called a leg cramp or a "charley horse."
A muscle cramp is a sudden, uncontrolled contraction of a muscle. This type of pain is most commonly experienced in the legs, and therefore often called a leg cramp or a "charley horse."
Muscle Cramps
Heat, dehydration and electrolyte depletion: Muscle cramps are more likely when you exercise in hot weather because sweat drains your body’s fluids, salt and minerals (i.e., potassium, magnesium and calcium). Loss of these nutrients may also cause a muscle to spasm.
Heat, dehydration and electrolyte depletion: Muscle cramps are more likely when you exercise in hot weather because sweat drains your body’s fluids, salt and minerals (i.e., potassium, magnesium and calcium). Loss of these nutrients may also cause a muscle to spasm.
Spasms
Spasms are contractions of the hands, thumbs, feet, or toes that are sometimes seen with muscle cramps, twitching, and convulsions (tetany). They can be severe and painful.
Spasms are contractions of the hands, thumbs, feet, or toes that are sometimes seen with muscle cramps, twitching, and convulsions (tetany). They can be severe and painful.
Strains
A strain is when a muscle becomes overstretched and tears. This painful injury, also called a "pulled muscle," can be caused by an accident, improper use of a muscle, or overuse of a muscle.
A strain is when a muscle becomes overstretched and tears. This painful injury, also called a "pulled muscle," can be caused by an accident, improper use of a muscle, or overuse of a muscle.
Treatment for leg strain (Image)
Leg strain is also known as a pulled muscle. It results from damage to a muscle from excessive physical activity. Proper treatment of a pulled muscle includes a cold compress, rest, and elevation of the damaged muscle above the level of the heart.
Leg strain is also known as a pulled muscle. It results from damage to a muscle from excessive physical activity. Proper treatment of a pulled muscle includes a cold compress, rest, and elevation of the damaged muscle above the level of the heart.
Muscle strain (Image)
A muscle strain is the stretching or tearing of muscle fibers. A muscle strain can be caused by sports, exercise, a sudden movement, or trying to lift something that is too heavy. Symptoms of a muscle strain include pain, tightness, swelling, tenderness, and the inability to move the muscle.
A muscle strain is the stretching or tearing of muscle fibers. A muscle strain can be caused by sports, exercise, a sudden movement, or trying to lift something that is too heavy. Symptoms of a muscle strain include pain, tightness, swelling, tenderness, and the inability to move the muscle.
Sciatica - Sciatic nerve dysfunction
Sciatica is a condition involving impaired movement and/or sensation in the leg, it occurs when there is damage to the sciatic nerve, located in the back of the leg. Sciatica is a form of peripheral neuropathy. This nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg and provides sensation to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg and the sole of the foot.
Sciatica is a condition involving impaired movement and/or sensation in the leg, it occurs when there is damage to the sciatic nerve, located in the back of the leg. Sciatica is a form of peripheral neuropathy. This nerve controls the muscles of the back of the knee and lower leg and provides sensation to the back of the thigh, part of the lower leg and the sole of the foot.
Dermatomyositis
Dermatomyositis is connective-tissue disease that is characterized by inflammation of the muscles and the skin.
Dermatomyositis is connective-tissue disease that is characterized by inflammation of the muscles and the skin.
Movement - uncontrolled or slow
Uncontrolled or slow movement is defined as an impairment of the muscle tone (usually in large muscle groups), causing slow involuntary contractions of the head, limbs, trunk, or neck.
Uncontrolled or slow movement is defined as an impairment of the muscle tone (usually in large muscle groups), causing slow involuntary contractions of the head, limbs, trunk, or neck.
The Abdominal Muscle Group
The abdominal muscles are a group of 6 muscles that extend from various places on the ribs to various places on the pelvis.
The abdominal muscles are a group of 6 muscles that extend from various places on the ribs to various places on the pelvis.
Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis
Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis is associated with elevated levels of potassium in the bloodstream. The disorder causes occasional episodes of muscle weakness. The cause of hyperkalemic periodic paralysis is believed to be a genetic muscle disease.
Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis is associated with elevated levels of potassium in the bloodstream. The disorder causes occasional episodes of muscle weakness. The cause of hyperkalemic periodic paralysis is believed to be a genetic muscle disease.
Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis
Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis a syndrome characterized by intermittent episodes of muscle weakness. Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis is a rare condition that occurs only in people with thyrotoxicosis (high thyroid hormone levels). It is seen most commonly in Asian men.
Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis a syndrome characterized by intermittent episodes of muscle weakness. Thyrotoxic periodic paralysis is a rare condition that occurs only in people with thyrotoxicosis (high thyroid hormone levels). It is seen most commonly in Asian men.
Myositis (Muscle Inflammation) Check The Meds!
Muscle aches and pains can be the result of medication side effects, from MedicineNet.
Muscle aches and pains can be the result of medication side effects, from MedicineNet.