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Myalgia

life science Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Myalgia is the scientific name for muscle pain. It is a painful feeling that comes from your muscle tissue. This pain is often a symptom of many different diseases.

It can happen in just one muscle or a whole group. Many people feel this pain during their daily lives. Understanding why it happens is a very important job for doctors.

There are many ways that myalgia starts. The most common way is through overuse of a muscle. This means using a muscle too much, too often, or too soon. A repetitive strain injury is one example of this.

Injury can also cause pain through sprains and strains. Sometimes, a viral infection causes pain even without an injury. Dehydration can also lead to pain during big physical activities.

Many different health conditions can cause this sensation. Some are infectious diseases like influenza, malaria, or Lyme disease.

Other types are autoimmune diseases. These include lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's syndrome, or polymyositis. Some people feel pain from gastrointestinal diseases like Crohn's disease. Even allergies or certain medications can cause myalgia. A vaccination can also be a cause for muscle pain.

There are many specific names for related health issues. Some people have myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Others might have fibromyalgia syndrome or metabolic myopathy. There are also many metabolic defects like diabetes or hypothyroidism. Some pain comes from things like Ehlers–Danlos syndrome. Even stopping certain drugs suddenly can induce myalgia. This includes stopping caffeine, alcohol, or opioids.

If the cause is unknown, doctors treat the symptoms.

One way to help is through rest and heat. People also use massage or cryotherapy, which is cold therapy. Some may use muscle relaxants or medicines like paracetamol. NSAIDs are another type of medicine used for pain. These treatments help the body feel better while it heals. You can think of these like tools to fix a problem.

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