Muscle pain is usually more uncomfortable than other common body pains as it involves a throbbing, chronic tingling sensation. Some muscular aches are easy to get relief from but others are more severe. In any case, it is important to get muscle pain relief as soon as possible because it may get worse if left untreated.
The common causes of aching muscles are overuse of muscles, unaccustomed use, tension, and injury from performing physically demanding work or exercise. When more severe pain is accompanied by restricted movement or swelling, there can be severe damage to muscles, tendons, or ligaments. Some pains are associated with mild conditions such as flu, and chronic diseases such as fibromyalgia, although they tend to affect almost all muscles of the body and not specific sets of muscles. In such cases, treatment focuses on the medical condition that causes the muscles to ache.
Many people often take medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs, pain killers, and muscle relaxants to get relief. Most of these drugs work on the body’s central nervous system to block pain signals but not on the real problem. They relax the injured muscles and reduce the symptoms but don’t actually heal the injury itself.
Most drugs for muscle aches are often available in injectable and tablet forms. Although they help ease the pain, they are known to cause side effects that can lead to other medical conditions. Doctors usually prescribe such medications early in the duration of the treatment of patients. These drugs should be used only on a short-term basis because long term use may lead to drug dependency and abuse.
Sprains and strains of the muscular tissues normally cause considerable pain and impairment. The sad reality is that they are sometimes poorly diagnosed which can result in inadequate pain management. Drugs actually slow down the healing process. Too much rest may also be counterproductive in the treatment process because muscles may begin to shrink if not used. Injured muscular tissues need a certain amount of movement while the patient is in the healing process.
Some people choose to alleviate muscle aches at home through natural methods. Cold therapy can reduce the soreness, swelling, and inflammation of the muscles as it reduces blood flow to the affected area. It also numbs the muscles and slows down the messages of pain that the nerves send to the brain. Drinking a lot of water can help reduce soreness. Swimming helps ease the pain by promoting blood flow and allowing movements of the muscles without forcing them to support the weight of the body. When all home remedies fail to alleviate muscular aches, it’s important to seek help from experts in dealing with muscle pains.
In general, injured muscles can regain optimum flexibility and strength when muscular irregularities are aligned properly and integrated with muscle fibers. The human body does not have enough internal mechanism to treat injured, sprained, and strained muscles on its own. Drugs offer quick but temporary relief and rest may reduce the pain over time. However, they will not provide ultimate muscle pain relief.