Muscle aches

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Muscle pain

Muscular atrophy

Overview

Treatment

Muscle aches

Definition:

Muscle aches and pains are common and can involve more than one muscle. Muscle pain also can involve ligaments, tendons, and fascia, the soft tissues that connect muscles, bones, and organs together.

See also muscle cramps and joint pain.

Alternative Names:

Muscle pain; Myalgia; Pain - muscles

Considerations:

Muscle pain is most frequently related to tension, overuse, or muscle injury from exercise or physically-demanding work. In these situations, the pain tends to involve specific muscles and starts during or just after the activity. It is usually obvious which activity is causing the pain.

Muscle pain also can be a sign of conditions affecting your whole body, like some infections (including the flu) and disorders that affect connective tissues throughout the body (such as lupus).

One common cause of muscle aches and pain is fibromyalgia, a condition that includes tenderness in your muscles and surrounding soft tissue, sleep difficulties, fatigue, and headaches.

Common Causes:

The most common causes are:

Tension or stress
Overuse: using a muscle too much, too soon, too often
Injury or trauma including sprains and strains

Muscle pain may also be due to:

Polymyositis
Dermatomyositis
Lupus
Fibromyalgia
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Infections, including:
- An abscess in the muscle
- Trichinosis (roundworm)
- Influenza (the flu)
- Lyme disease
- Malaria
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever
- Polio
- Many others
Electrolyte imbalances like too little potassium or calcium
Rhabdomyolysis
Drugs, including:
- Cocaine
- Statins for lowering cholesterol (such as atorvastatin, simvastatin, and lovastatin)
- ACE inhibitors for lowering blood pressure (such as enalapril and captopril)
- Many others

References:

Dannecker EA. Self-care behaviors for muscle pain. J Pain. 2004; 5(9): 521-527.

Goldenberg DL, Burckhardt C, Crofford L. Management of fibromyalgia syndrome. JAMA. 2004 Nov 17;292(19):2388-95.

Review Date: 6/3/2005
Reviewed By: Thomas A. Owens, M.D., Departments of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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