10 reasons you shouldn’t ignore constant body ache

Suffering from body ache? Don’t just ignore it, the pain can be a symptom of an underlying health condition. Body aches are a common symptom of many serious conditions.

Standing, walking, or exercising for long periods of time may lead to body aches. If it’s the reason in your case, it is not a thing to worry about. Take note – viral or bacterial infections, hypothyroidism, arteriosclerosis, lupus can also cause musclesand joint pain.

No matter your age, constant body ache can affect anyone and be a harrowing experience. The most common body aches are headache, neck and back pain, muscle pain, joint pain; and also neuropathic pain, which occurs when the nervous system doesn t function properly. It is a medical condition that needs attention and should not be ignored. Here are some of the most common causes of constant body pain you should know.

When is constant body pain a matter of concern?

The most obvious symptom of this condition is, of course, the severe pain in the muscles and joints, a lot like what you experience during flu. But there are other symptoms that occur along with the pain:

Fever
When the pain becomes severe, tenderness in the joint areas
Inflammation of the muscles
Lack of sleep due to constant pain
Weakness and a general feeling of being sick.

Certain diseases can lead to this problem, and it is prudent to get checked and treated for the same. Some of such diseases are:

Fibromyalgia

This is a disorder with hallmark symptoms of chronic widespread body pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances that negatively affect the quality of life. The other symptoms are:

Painful tender points
Morning stiffness
Depression
Anxiety
Cognitive difficulties
Mood and anxiety disorders generally co-occur with fibromyalgia, since they have common pathophysiologic (functional changes associated with or resulting from disease or injury) abnormalities.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Migraine
Temporomandibular disorder (jaw and surrounding facial muscle problems)
Painful bladder syndrome
Inflammation of the prostate gland and chronic pelvic pain

This means, if you have Fibromyalgia, you may also have one or more of the mentioned medical symptoms.

Treatment

To relieve body pain and help you cope with the symptoms your doctor may prescribe antidepressants or muscle relaxants to reduce pain perception in your brain. But the first line of treatment involves physical therapy, exercise, eating a well balanced diet, stress-relief methods such as massage and relaxation techniques like yoga asanas for stress relief and cognitive-behavioural therapy.

In some cases, non-pharmacologic treatment has shown to be more useful than medications alone. For example, studies have shown that yoga, acupuncture and traditional chinese medicine (TCM), are valid therapeutic methods for Fibromyalgia.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)

The symptoms are almost same as in fibromyalgia, however when the feeling of extreme fatigue doesn t improve with rest it is possibly a case of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

Lyme disease

This disease is caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi that spreads through the bite of the blacklegged tick. Symptoms are:

Marked fatigue
Severe headache
Widespread musculoskeletal pain
Tender points in characteristic locations
Pain and stiffness in many joints
Impairment of sensation
Difficulty with concentration
Memory loss
Sleep disturbances

Treatment

Although, the disease can be cured with antibiotics if diagnosed in the early stages, it can cause complications such as long-term joint inflammation (Lyme arthritis) and heart rhythm problems, as well as brain and nervous system problems. So, apart from the above symptoms (which usually show up later) check with your doctor if you have a large, red, expanding rash that may look like a bull s eye, or you have been bitten by a tick when hiking or walking in dense or bushy areas.

Clich d but true, stress can also be responsible for constant body ache. Some common symptoms of this condition are

Headache
Muscle pain
Chest pain
Fatigue
Sleep problems
Stomach upsets

But, if you re not sure whether stress is causing the symptoms or if you ve taken steps to control your stress, but your symptoms continue, Mayo Clinic experts suggest you see your doctor to check for other potential causes. Know more about stress and how to deal with it.

Low levels of vitamin D

Low levels of vitamin D is one of the reasons for constant and chronic body pain. Known to help in the absorption of calcium, vitamin D helps keep your bones strong, preventing fractures. According to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, low levels of vitamin D allow your body to absorb only about 10 to 15 percent of the calcium you eat. And since calcium is required to build stronger and healthy bones vitamin D deficiency indirectly results in weak, soft and achy bones.

Some of the common symptoms of low levels of vitamin D are:

Constant fatigue
Achy bones
Weakness

Treatment

Once diagnosed it is easy to treat this condition with vitamin D supplements and a well balanced diet. Prolonged deficiency of vitamin D and calcium can also lead to osteoporosis. Find out why women are more prone to osteoporosis than men.

Lack of iron in the blood

Also known as anaemia, this condition occurs due to the lack of iron in your blood. This lack leads to lower amounts of oxygen and nutrients carried to various parts of the body, making you feel tired and achy all over. Other symptoms of this condition include:

Muscle aches
Pale skin and nails
Excessive bleeding during menstruation
Brittle nails and hair
Dizziness
Moodiness and irritability

Treatment

The treatment of iron deficiency anaemia involves iron replacement therapies including tablets and syrups. Apart from that you will be required to eat foods rich in iron content and live a healthy life.

Multiple sclerosis

This is a condition that affects the spinal cord and brain. Since the nerves and the brain are involved, people with multiple sclerosis often suffer from constant body aches. Apart from that the other common symptoms are:

Weakness
Tingling sensation
Numbness
Blurred vision
Muscle stiffness
Urinary problems
Improper cognition

Treatment

In most cases, timely treatment can help delay the progression of the disease; this includes having medication, deep brain stimulation and treating conditions like urinary problems that may arise due to the condition.

Osteoarthritis

This is a form of arthritis where the cartilage between two bones erodes, causing the bones to rub against each other, leading to pain and discomfort. Due to the nature of this disease you might suffer from constant body ache that sometimes can be debilitating. Apart from that other symptoms of this disease are:

Soreness and stiffness of joints
Pain in the hips, back and hands that usually reduces after movement
Stiffness in the morning and on excessive activity.

Nerve damage

This is a condition where, as the name suggests, your nerves (usually in a particular region) are damaged due to disease or injury. This condition causes the nerves to malfunction leading to pain all over the body, especially in the region that is hurt. Some of the common symptoms associated with this condition are:

Muscle pain
Tingling
Muscle spasms
Lack of coordination

Other ailments

Other chronic diseases such as:

Lupus
Rheumatoid arthritis
Viral gastroenteritis
Common flu
Tuberculosis (as per doctors from All India Institute of Medical Sciences)
Cancer
Injuries from accidents, whether minor or major, may result in such body aches. Unfortunately, the condition can worsen during winters or during cold weather.
Constant and widespread aches can also be genetic.
Aging can also cause chronic body aches. Older adults are more likely to have long-term medical problems, such as diabetes or arthritis, which can lead to ongoing pain. For reasons unknown, sometimes not having any illness may also cause constant body aches in older adults.
Some diseases also cause constant body aches. Severe or prolonged widespread pains may indicate serious disorders or diseases. Do not ignore it; consult a doctor as soon as possible.

Even though sometimes these may be confused with infective or inflammatory conditions, particularly in young individuals, and degenerative conditions of the spine and hip in elderly. This may delay the diagnosis and treatment leading to poor outcomes or even death.

10 reasons you shouldn’t ignore constant body ache

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10 reasons you shouldn’t ignore constant body ache

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