Musculoskeletal pain
Musculoskeletal pain is a pain in muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. The pain can affect one localized body part or the entire body. Acute injury usually precipitates acute musculoskeletal pain, whereas chronic pain may result from degenerative processes, arthritis, or fibromyalgia. If pain interferes with your daily life, consult a doctor for proper treatment to maintain a good quality of life.
Types of musculoskeletal pain
- Muscle pain: such as muscle cramps, spasms, injuries, infections, or tumors.
- Bone pain: from bone fractures and injuries. A bone tumor can cause pain also, but this is rare.
- Joint pain: caused by inflammation, stiffness, and also infection.
- Tendon and ligament pain: can be due to strains, sprains, or overuse.
Causes
Poor posture, muscle sprains, repetitive use, bone fractures, and direct joint trauma with joint dislocation are common causes of musculoskeletal pain.
Symptoms
Depending on the cause, symptoms may vary. Common symptoms are:
- Muscle ache that may worsen with movement.
- Stiffness of limbs or trunk or even muscle twitching.
- Muscle fatigues during the day or difficulty falling asleep at night.
Diagnosis
Your doctor will review your medical history, ask questions, and perform a physical exam to determine the source of pain, what relieves or worsen it, and whether you have other symptoms, such as fever. Additional tests, such as X-rays, CT scans, MRI, or blood tests, may be ordered.
Treatments
After the cause of the pain is determined, your doctor will formulate a treatment plan and discuss it with you.
If surgical treatment is not warranted (or this is an option you don’t want), conservative treatments are in order. Your doctor may prescribe pain relievers, steroid injections, dry needling, acupuncture, or splints and may refer you to a therapist for physical therapy, occupational therapy, orthotist (who make splints or braces), chiropractic adjustment, and therapeutic massage.
When you suffer from musculoskeletal pain, you should follow the instruction of a doctor or therapist, such as taking medication or modifying daily activities and body posture. On the most painful days, please avoid using the injured muscle, bone, or joint, and apply a cold compress on the injured area to relieve swelling and inflammation.
Then when the pain is trending down, change to a warm compress, do gradual stretching and strengthening exercises daily, and gently use the affected part at a level that does not bring on the pain.
If you are a smoker, stop smoking because it can increase inflammation.
Prevention
- Exercise and stretch regularly to keep your muscles, bones, and joints healthy and strong.
- Avoid repetitive activities, which can cause overuse injury of your muscles and joints.
- Learn about ergonomics, such as how to properly lift heavy objects, the correct body posture, and use a workstation for working at a computer. So you can maintain a good posture throughout the day.
