Myalgia

Alternative names

Muscle pain; Muscle aches; Pain - muscles

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.

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 pains 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, and 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); and many others
  

Home Care

For muscle pain from overuse or injury, rest that body part and take acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Apply ice for the first 24 to 72 hours of an injury to reduce pain and inflammation. After that, heat often feels more soothing.