Your body needs certain amounts of different minerals, including potassium, to function properly. If you don't have enough potassium in your body, also known as hypokalemia, it can cause a variety of symptoms, including muscle pain. Although pain from low potassium often isn't severe, if the low potassium levels are left uncorrected, they can cause serious problems.
Function of Potassium
Your body needs potassium in small quantities because the mineral functions as an electrolyte. Electrolytes are substances that have an electrical charge when they are dissolved in water-based substances, such as blood and the fluid inside cells. The levels of potassium and other electrolytes are carefully controlled by your body, because too little potassium can cause some of your tissues to not function properly. Pain is your body's way of telling you that something is wrong, even if the cause isn't obvious to you.
Potassium and Muscle Function
Potassium is especially important as an electrolyte for the function of your muscles. Your muscles contract in response to electrical currents that can be generated by changes in potassium levels. If you don't have enough potassium, your muscles will have trouble contracting and may send pain signals to your brain to let you know that something is wrong. Other signs of hypokalemia include abnormal fatigue or weakness in muscles, according to Medline Plus. In severe cases, hypokalemia can cause rhabdomyalysis, a condition in which your muscle fibers break down, which will cause severe muscle pain.
What Can Cause Potassium-related Pain?
Although not consuming enough potassium can cause pain, the Merck Manual says that low potassium levels are usually caused by loss of potassium from your body, not inadequate intake. Potassium can be lost through your urine, and low potassium levels can be a sign of kidney problems. Low potassium also may be due to the use of certain medications, such as diuretics. Severe vomiting or diarrhea may also cause potassium loss, whether it is due to illness, an eating disorder or laxative use.
Diagnosis and Treatment
If you are experiencing pain and are concerned about low potassium levels, your doctor can perform a blood test known as an electrolyte panel to measure the amount of potassium in your blood. If your potassium levels are too low, you may need to stop using medications that are causing the potassium loss, according to MayoClinic.com. Otherwise, adding more potassium to your diet and taking potassium supplements can correct the deficiency. Severe cases may need immediate treatment; extremely low potassium can cause heart problems, which can cause painful heart palpitations and be life threatening.
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