9 Surprising Causes of Muscle Pain

Muscle pain is an extremely common condition that affects many people around the world. This type of pain may be felt practically anywhere since muscle tissue is present in nearly all parts of the body. Mild muscle pain can be normal after the active exercises. However, muscle pain must alert you if it appears without a clear reason. Here are nine common reasons why you may feel muscle pain.

1. Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis causes a lot of painful symptoms. The inflammation that started from joints may spread to other organs of our body, including muscles. A patient starts experiencing muscle pain and muscle weakness. Muscle weakness not only reduces the quality of life but also decrease the patients’ ability to work. Weakened muscles and muscle pain usually arise as a result of decreased muscle mass due to disuse atrophy.

2. Flu

Muscle pain is one of the most common symptoms of the flu. Inflammation that arises in your body due to the flu virus affects the muscles and causes pain. To relieve such muscle pain you need to eliminate the root cause. As soon as the virus leaves your body, the muscle pain will disappear. The recovery usually lasts from a few days to a few weeks.

3. Dermatomyositis

Dermatomyositis is another inflammatory process that leads to the destruction of muscle tissue over time. This causes muscle pain and weakness. Dermatomyositis is often accompanied by skin rash and inflammatory myopathy. This disease may affect both children and adults. There is no treatment for this condition, but its symptoms can be managed. 

4. Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a condition that affects the thyroid gland. This disease suppresses the thyroid gland’s ability to produce enough of certain crucial hormones. In some patients, hypothyroidism may cause joint and muscle pain. Most often muscle pain affects the shoulders and hips. However, pain may also appear in other parts of the body. Adequate thyroid hormone replacement and pain reliever are the options that may help relieve muscle pain.

5. Fibromyalgia

Fibromyalgia is a disease that may cause muscle pain in any part of the body. This disease may also cause such symptoms as depression, mental fog, and tiredness. The pain caused by fibromyalgia differs from person to person. While some people experience pain only in certain areas, others feel it all over their bodies. The severity of pain varies depending on your activity and the time of the day. 

6. Blood flow problem

Many kinds of vascular disease have the potential to cause muscle pain and soreness. When you have poor blood flow your muscles don’t get enough blood. This may cause oxygen starvation in the muscles. In the beginning, you may experience pain only when exercising. Over time, you might feel it when you sit or walk. 

7. Chronic fatigue syndrome

The main symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome are extreme tiredness and muscle pain without a clear reason. The pain may worsen after physical or mental stress. In this case, the rest will not help you relieve pain. Along with extreme tiredness and muscle pain, you may also experience headaches, memory problems, and sleep problems. There is no cure for this condition, but medication may relieve your symptoms.

8. Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack its own cells and tissues, including muscles. When lupus affects your muscles it makes them stiff and less mobile. There is no cure for this disease but certain exercises and medications may relieve the patient’s muscle pain. 

9. Polymyositis

Polymyositis may happen due to a virus or immune system problems. This condition is associated with muscle inflammation all over the body. Over time, polymyositis may contribute to muscle breakdown. Medications may help you calm the immune system and relieve inflammation.