Although muscle aches and pains may occur due to tension, overactivity or injury, many different conditions affect the muscles and surrounding tissues, including the connective tissues, ligaments and tendons. Joint pain can occur due to injury, and conditions triggering inflammation can also cause joint pain. Because muscles join together at the joints, these two symptoms often occur together.
Hypothyroidism
The thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, converts iodine ingested in foods into two thyroid hormones: thyroxine, or T4, and triiodothyronine, or T3. Thyroid hormones regulate the body’s metabolism—the conversion of oxygen into energy. In fact, Endocrineweb.com reports that every cell in the body requires thyroid hormones to function properly. Hypothyroidism describes a condition in which the thyroid gland fails to produce enough hormones.
The symptoms of hypothyroidism usually begin slowing and get progressively worse over time. Patients often notice fatigue and sluggishness first, but hypothyroidism also causes dry skin, a puffy face, unexplained weight gain, a hoarse voice and constipation. A low level of thyroid hormone causes muscle weakness, muscle aches, tender muscles, and joint pain and stiffness, according to MayoClinic.com.
Lupus
Lupus, often referred to as “the great imitator,” causes a variety of symptoms that also occur due to other diseases, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, occurs when the immune system attacks the normal healthy cells in the body, therefore causing damage to any part of the body.
Approximately 90 percent of patients with lupus experience symptoms involving the musculoskeletal system, with about half reporting joint pain as the first noticeable symptom, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Lupus causes muscle pain and tenderness, muscle aches, and muscle weakness. Lupus arthritis describes the symptoms of lupus affecting the joints, including pain, stiffness, swelling and tenderness.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia describes a chronic pain syndrome characterized by a group of symptoms that occur together without an identifiable cause. Fibromyalgia causes widespread pain that can interfere with sleep and cause psychological distress. Patients describe the pain caused by fibromyalgia as a stabbing or shooting pain and a deep muscular aching, throbbing and twitching, according to the National Fibromyalgia Association. Fibromyalgia also causes painful and stiff joints—a symptom that feels worse in the mornings.
Lyme Disease
Lyme disease occurs when a tick transmits the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi to humans through a bite. The infection typically begins with a circular rash, known as erythema migrans. As the infection progresses, additional symptoms occur, including fatigue, chills, fever, headache, muscle aches, joint pain and swollen lymph nodes. If left untreated, approximately 60 percent of patients develop arthritis-like symptoms of severe joint pain and swelling, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
