Muscle pain can be caused from many different things and often times there is no specific cause that can be determined. Muscle pain that returns repeatedly is considered chronic. Chronic pain can have an extensive physical and emotional toll on the body. If properly diagnosed, a solution to the pain can be found.
Arthritis
Arthritis occurs in muscles and joints. There are three main types of arthritis: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid and juvenile. Osteoarthritis is a type of degenerative arthritis that causes pain and stiffness in the joints. It can also lead to loss of movement in the joints. Rheumatoid is also a chronic pain condition that is caused by inflammation of the lining of the joints. This can be a very debilitating disease. Juvenile arthritis initially occurs before the age of 18. Rheumatologists are doctors who specialize in arthritis-related care. Hot and cold therapy along with anti-inflammatory drugs are often successful in curbing the muscle pain caused from arthritis.
Pinched Nerves
Pinched nerves occur when the nerves in the spine, back or other areas of the body are compressed or pinched from bone or misalignment. This is generally caused from a severe muscle strain or injury to the area or nearby locations. This can cause the area muscles to spasm and become painful. There are several ways to treat this, such as compression therapy, which is used to relieve pressure on the nerves, surgery, steroid and medication injections that numb the area to provide relief.
Bulging Discs
A bulged disk in the back can be caused from an injury or improper posture. Bulging disks can compress nearby muscle groups and cause spasm or chronic pain. Many medical providers initially treat this condition with medicine or physical therapy. For ongoing issues, surgery to relieve the disk pressure on surrounding muscle groups may be necessary.
Myositis
Myositis is a type of muscle inflammation that causes swelling. It is often caused by an injury or infection. In some cases it is caused by an autoimmune disorder such as lupus. Myositis leads to chronic pain as long as the underlying cause is left untreated. Muscle groups throughout the body can be targeted including the back, shoulders, neck, arms and legs.
Peripheral Neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy is a serious condition that is caused by the nerves that transmit information back and forth from the brain and the spinal cord. It can eventually lead to complete loss of sensation and inability to move muscle groups. Before the final stages, this condition causes extreme muscle pain along joints. Peripheral neuropathy is treated by determining the underlying cause, such as diabetes, AIDS or uremia.
