Sore muscles after great physical exertion are nothing new. However, this annoying phenomenon disappears relatively quickly. With myalgia, the muscle pain lasts for an unusually long time and is more intense . Muscle pain of this kind can have various causes - but when might it be due to a more serious illness and should then be examined by a doctor?
Here you will find further information as well as selected myalgia specialists and centers.
The term myalgia is a medical umbrella term for muscle pain. It comes from the Greek and is used for all pain and painful conditions affecting the muscles. Muscle pain can occur in a variety of diseases and due to a wide range of causes.
The following video provides an overview of the muscles of the human body:
Myalgias are listed in the WHO disease catalog under the ICD code M79.1.
A rough distinction can be made between muscular (in the affected muscle itself) and systemic (disease of the whole body) causes.
Humans have around 650 muscles. Myalgia can cause pain in any muscle. © adimas / Fotolia
Malnutrition can also be the cause of muscle pain. Minerals, vitamins and proteins are particularly important for healthy muscles. Muscles can ache, especially if there is a lack of magnesium or vitamin D in the body. This is often accompanied by muscle cramps and a feeling of weakness.
A balanced diet and the targeted supplementation of missing vitamins and minerals can be a first step in treatment. A protein-rich diet can also help to treat muscle pain and cramps or prevent them from occurring in the first place. Vegetarians are particularly susceptible here and should make sure they eat a healthy and balanced diet. However, this is not an argument against a vegetarian or vegan diet, as there are plenty of plant-based sources of protein (e.g. pulses, nuts, etc.).
Vitamin D deficiency can promote the development of myalgia © bit24 / Fotolia
The main symptoms are muscle pain, which manifests itself in different ways and can be very diverse. This applies not only to the location of the pain, but also to the type and duration of the pain. Depending on the location, doctors therefore differentiate between
Myalgias can occur in different forms of pain. They are often muscle aches and pains.
However, many people also experience the pain in the muscles as
The spectrum of different pain sensations ranges from an unpleasant accompanying pain to unbearable pain. The latter cannot be alleviated with conventional painkillers.
The muscle pain can
Occasionally, myalgia is accompanied by these symptoms :
However, these additional problems and complaints indicate a systemic cause of the muscle pain, not a disease originating in the muscle.
As explained in detail above, muscle pain can have many causes. A thorough and comprehensive diagnosis is therefore very important, especially if the myalgia is severe or long-lasting.
The following examinations are part of the diagnosis of myalgia:
The most important medical task at the beginning and as part of the diagnostic process is to take the patient's medical history. Specific events and previous illnesses can indicate the type of muscle disease.
For example, years of tobacco consumption, several heart attacks or a stroke are already suspicious of damage to the blood vessels and should make you think of "intermittent claudication". Immune system disorders in the patient's own history or in family members may indicate a rheumatic disease.
Taking medication containing cortisone to treat rheumatism can also cause muscle pain or indicate the underlying immunological disease. It is therefore advisable to bring a current medication schedule with you to the examination.
After a detailed medical history has been taken, a thorough physical examination follows. The external shape of the skeletal system is also examined before the muscles are palpated. The texture and color of the skin are also important and often indicative. Bruising, for example, can indicate accidents, violence or coagulation disorders.
During the subsequent examination of the muscles, it is advisable to start far away from the maximum level of pain and work your way forward slowly. Trigger points in particular should be avoided at first. Most patients can already tell where their main pain point (= trigger point) is at the beginning of the examination and are often afraid that the examination will start there. You should therefore tell the doctor where it hurts most and ask them not to start here.
You should also report diffuse pain that does not occur at a single point. This can be an important indication of a systemic illness as the cause of the muscle pain.
A blood count is indicated for further diagnosis. In particular, an increase in the number of white blood cells (leukocytes) is important and indicative in this context. Attention should also be paid to any reduced levels of red blood pigment or red blood cells (erythrocytes) during the evaluation. A drop in the red blood pigment (anemia) can indicate bleeding into the muscles, but also other diseases, e.g. bone marrow damage or tumor disease.
If metabolic or underlying diseases are suspected, other laboratory parameters are checked, such as
A muscle tissue sample (biopsy) is a so-called invasive diagnostic procedure in which the "integrity" of the body is interfered with. This examination is therefore only indicated and justified in cases where a clear diagnosis cannot be made using non-invasive measures. In the majority of cases, however, a biopsy is not necessary and the diagnosis can be made on the basis of physical examination and imaging.
If the muscle pain is caused by muscle soreness , it is usually sufficient to
Applying pain-relieving, circulation-promoting and cooling ointments (e.g. with herbal extracts and camphor) can also be beneficial.
If rest, cooling and the application of ointments are not enough, massage can be a further component in the treatment of muscle pain. With trigger points, the pain is transmitted via the shortened muscle bundle when pressure is applied. Targeted massage can resolve these trigger points.
The video shows this principle:
You should seek medical treatment if the muscle pain
Serious injuries, such as a torn muscle fiber, should be treated specifically. Here too, immobilization is usually necessary, and only rarely surgical treatment. Nevertheless, it is important to exclude concomitant diseases (especially bone fractures) through targeted diagnostics.
The medical treatment of muscle pain depends on the respective causes. It is therefore important to recognize the triggers for painful muscles.
A healthy lifestyle can also help to prevent chronic illnesses. It is therefore worth eating a balanced diet, drinking enough and exercising. Harmful stimulants should be avoided. But even if an illness is already present, a healthy lifestyle can help to alleviate symptoms.
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