Loss in the body and temperature 37-38. can be caused by serious diseases of both viral and other nature. The normal human body temperature is on average 36.6. This temperature is optimal for biochemical processes in the body. But in some people, due to their characteristics of the body, the normal temperature can be in the range of 36.6-37.4. Therefore, it is recommended to see a doctor as soon as possible if the chills and temperature are above 37.5.
An elevated body temperature is our body's defense response to an internal or external stimulus that causes inflammation. Establishing the causes of such a state of the body, identifying the accompanying symptoms will help to correctly diagnose and start the necessary treatment on time.
If the temperature lasts for several days and does not rise above 38 degrees, this condition is called subfebrile. In most cases, doctors do not recommend medication to reduce it. It is believed that the body must cope on its own. First of all, it is necessary to treat the cause that caused it.Body aches are most often due to colds, intoxication of the body and disorders of internal metabolic processes. As a result of the violations that have arisen, the pain signal is transmitted through the receptors to the nervous system. The person feels pain and unpleasant body aches. His general condition is deteriorating sharply.
A condition when the whole body aches and the temperature is above normal can be caused by several serious reasons:
- viral infections (ARVI, colds, flu)
- hepatitis B and C
- thyroid disease
- acute and chronic cystitis
- sexually transmitted diseases (syphilis, gonorrhea)
- urogenital infections: toxoplasmosis, mycoplasmosis, ureaplasmosis, trichomoniasis, etc.
- oncological diseases
- chronical bronchitis
- bronchial asthma
- pulmonary tuberculosis
- chronic myocarditis, endocarditis
- chronic pyelonephritis
- gynecological diseases
- inflammatory processes in the body
- autoimmune diseases
- arthritis
- drug and narcotic poisoning
- inflammation of the muscles of the joints, back, neck
- encephalitis
- disorders in the hematopoietic system (leukemia)
- venereal diseases
- tissue damage
- helminthiasis.
As you can see, there are a lot of reasons that cause body aches and a temperature of 38, so it is very important to correctly establish the diagnosis and start the necessary treatment on time. Only a doctor can correctly establish the cause of the disease on the basis of tests, as well as identifying accompanying symptoms.
In some cases, an increase in body temperature is a natural reaction of the body to ongoing internal processes and should not be a cause for concern.These include:
First trimester of pregnancy. Subfebrile temperature is a normal reaction of the body to hormonal changes. They are associated with the active production of progesterone. In this case, a pregnant woman may experience symptoms such as drowsiness, decreased performance, fatigue, and nasal congestion. In the absence of other symptoms, low-grade fever should not be a cause for concern.
During ovulation, as well as during the menstrual cycle in women. Very often these periods are accompanied by a slight increase in temperature.
In times of stress. Accumulated fatigue and nervous disorders can lead to hyperthermia.
And also subfebrile condition often becomes a consequence of a severe infectious disease. This condition can continue for several months after recovery.
In infants under the age of 1 year, this condition may be the result of vaccinations.
In addition, children from 8 to 14 years old often have this condition during periods of active growth and development.
Symptoms
Symptoms depend on the individual characteristics of the organism, as well as on the level of the current temperature.
Often, a slight rise in temperature can be asymptomatic.
In the case of a high temperature, loss of appetite, fatigue, chills appear, forcing the patient to hide under the covers to keep warm.
A drop in fever is accompanied by sweating. Occasionally, fever pain can cause confusion and loss of consciousness, high fluid loss, leading to dehydration. It's all general symptoms... But depending on the cause of the painful condition, other symptoms may appear.
Headache
It often occurs with bacterial meningitis and kidney infections.
Increased sweating and weakness
It can be caused by inflammation and problems with the immune system. Moreover, the temperature in this case is low and rarely exceeds 38C. Patients often have a subfebrile state, which is characterized by a low temperature of 37-37.5.
And also these symptoms are typical for cancer, - extensive tumors with metastatic spread, and for blood diseases - leukemia, lymphoma.
Excessive sweating and dry skin can also be caused by an increase in the work of thyroid hormones.
Pain when urinating
Often occur in acute and chronic cystitis, pyelonephritis, gynecological diseases, urinary tract infections
Abdominal pain, loose stools, nausea, vomiting
Such symptoms occur with salmonellosis, dysentery, typhoid fever, encephalitis, meningitis.
Rash on the body
Appears with chickenpox, measles.
Palpitations, shortness of breath
These symptoms are often manifested in asthma, in violation of the thyroid gland, bronchitis, tuberculosis.
If the temperature is kept within 37-38. for a long time - this is an occasion to consult a doctor and undergo the necessary diagnostics to identify the cause of the disease.
Diagnostics includes
- general and biochemical blood test
- general urine analysis
- blood test for hormones
- fluorography, ultrasound examination
- ECG, ECHO for detecting violations in the work of the heart
- stool analysis
- blood test for HIV, syphilis and other sexually transmitted diseases
- external examination by a specialist
- viewing detailed medical history
- sputum sampling
- gynecological examinations.
With chills and a temperature of 37.5. untimely access to a doctor can lead to complications and serious consequences.
Complications and consequences
If the temperature is too high, the transmission of nerve impulses is impaired, which can lead to irreversible effects in the cerebral cortex.
An increase in body temperature above 41 degrees is the reason for urgent hospitalization, as it can lead to loss of consciousness and serious damage to the brain.
Low body temperature (hypothermia) leads to impaired cardiac activity and breathing, which can result in a coma.
Treatment
Treatment is prescribed by a doctor depending on the individual characteristics of the organism, the course of the disease and the reasons that caused it. In some cases, it is enough just to stay in bed and consume a lot of fluids; in others, you cannot do without medication.
Medication
It is not recommended to bring down subfebrile temperature with the help of drugs, since it is believed that the body must cope with the virus on its own. However, if the need to lower the temperature has arisen, it is recommended to use:
Paracetamol. The safest of all means that exist. It is allowed to be consumed even by infants. It is part of most of the known cold remediessuch as Fervex. Teraflu, Coldrex.
Ibuprofen, Analgin, Nurofen are used to treat body aches and chills. These funds are used primarily as a pain reliever in case of bruises, cuts, burns.
Aspirin, Citramon can also be used to lower the temperature, but only for adults and in extreme cases due to the large number of contraindications.
For bacterial infections, antibiotics are prescribed.
It should be remembered that Aspirin should not be given to children under 12 years old due to high risk development of Reye's syndrome.Cope with fever more effectively by working with drug treatment means traditional medicine.
Treatment with traditional medicine
Most experts claim that medication lowering the heat should be used only at temperatures from 38 degrees and above. If it is lower, as well as for the treatment of chills, it is recommended to use some effective methods of traditional medicine to help reduce it.
Effective home remedies for fever are:
Drinking a lot of warm liquid. Fruit drinks from cranberries, red and black currants, raspberries, viburnum help well. You can make teas with lemon, ginger and honey. They contain a large amount of vitamins that stimulate the immune system to fight viral infections.
Compresses with vinegar, which should be done every 3 hours at a temperature, help well. To do this, you need to dilute it in water in a ratio of 1: 5, and wipe the body with this solution.
In addition, rubbing the body with a mixture of water and vodka is a proven and effective remedy.
Cold compresses will also help bring down the temperature.
Hot milk with honey and chopped clove of garlic helps to cope well with heat.
Fresh strawberries are very useful. It also works as an effective antipyretic.
You can make a mixture of grated apple, honey, and onions. Mix them in equal proportions and take 1 tbsp before meals. spoon 3 times a day.
Prevention is by far the best treatment. As measures to protect the body, especially from pathogenic viruses and microbes, it is necessary to carry out regular procedures that strengthen and raise the immune system. These include:
- Compliance with an active lifestyle. Regular exercise reduces the risk of developing infectious diseases.
- Using a contrast shower. It hardens the body and stimulates the immune system well.
- Get regular flu shots. They will significantly reduce the risk of the disease.
- Bed rest.
- Drink plenty of liquid, at least 2 liters per day. (compotes, fruit drinks, teas, juices).
- Ventilate the room regularly. The room where the patient is located should not be hot. The optimum air temperature is 23 degrees.
- Change bed linen more often.
Compliance with these simple measures will significantly improve the patient's condition.
Homeopathy
For several years now, many doctors have been recommending the use of homeopathic complex preparations to combat colds. Their effectiveness has been proven in many people, and the effect on the body is not as aggressive as that of the same antipyretic and antibiotics. In most cases, these drugs are prescribed for viral infections, as well as for their prevention. The most popular homeopathic remedies for colds and flu in Russia:
- Aflubin
- Otsilokoktsinum
- Anaferon
- Belladonna
- Arnica
- Arsenicum Album. Recommended for painful aches throughout the body
- Bryony
- Ferrum Phosphoricum
- Kali iodatum.
In recent years, controversy has increased among medical professionals about the effectiveness of such treatment. Many people insist that the use of homeopathic remedies for flu, colds and acute respiratory viral infections is ineffective.
Apr 16, 2017 Victor Marchione
When the temperature rises above 37.5 degrees, most often the body begins to ache. These symptoms accompany many viral and bacterial infections. As the pathological processes in the body increase, the body temperature also rises. If it is not there, but the body aches, one can suspect a chronic course of any inflammatory process. To diagnose and get rid of the disease, you need to see a doctor. It will help solve the problem based on additional signs.
If there is an ache in the body, you need to measure the temperature, it, as a rule, rises rapidly, reaching 38-39 on the thermometer. The patient may complain of headaches and nausea. Similar symptoms are the result of poisoning the body with the waste products of pathogens.
The reasons may be infection:
- most people withARVIor flu, against a background of high temperature, bones ache and shakes, a complaint of pain in the head may appear;
- sinusitis are characterized by symptoms such as chills, high, nasal congestion and purulent discharge from it;
- infectious respiratory diseases (pneumonia, bronchitis, laryngitis);
- intestinal infections lead to the fact that the body temperature can rise to 39 degrees and above, while the patient is worried about nausea, loose stools, frequent vomiting;
- venereal diseases also cause body heat and aches.
Non-infectious causes:
If a person has been in a stressful situation for a long time, experienced hypothermia or received extensive injuries, then unpleasant symptoms may appear such as headache, body aches and slightly elevated temperature (not higher than 37.5 degrees).
There is also such a disease asthermoneurosis... In this condition, a spasm of the vessels located on the surface occurs, which entails a violation of thermoregulation. The body temperature rises to 37.5 degrees and can last for several days. Similar symptoms can be observed after an illness. Other signs may also join: increased fatigue, head and muscle pain, arrhythmia, the skin becomes pale.
Myogelosis begins with the appearance of pain in the cervical spine, which occurs due to impaired blood circulation. Gradually, the pain spreads to the occipital region of the head. The patient may complain that he is nauseous, absent or increases slightly, up to 37 degrees.
Dysmenorrhea... The condition occurs in women during the menstrual cycle. There is pain in the lower abdomen, dizzy, body temperature can rise to 38 degrees, appetite decreases and the emotional sphere changes.
There are times when body aches do not leave a person for several weeks in a row. There is no temperature or it rises significantly. The entire body must be examined carefully. The very first to be excludedtuberculosis... With this disease, other symptoms are present: coughing, pain in chest, decreased appetite, sputum with blood.
Symptoms such as a temperature over 37 degrees and aches throughout the body, combined with other signs, may indicate the following disorders and diseases.
- Weakness, drowsiness, fatigue, most likely we are talking about a cold or such, for example, infections as herpes or toxoplasmosis.
- Cough. Defeat respiratory tract due to colds.
- If the patient is shaking, there is repeated loose stools, we can talk about an intestinal infection of bacterial or viral origin.
- If the aches in the whole body are accompanied by the fact that the patient is shaking, a headache, it is most likely that the body has been poisoned or a serious illness is present, such as bronchitis, flu, cystitis, appendicitis.
- Nausea often accompanies the patient at a high body temperature, while the patient often shakes, the cause may be meningitis, encephalitis, herpes. Meningitis is a dangerous disease in which the lining of the brain becomes inflamed. A severe headache appears, which can radiate to the neck, bones, back.
Attention should also be paid to such a state when there is no temperature, but aches are present. The reasons can be harmless, for example, pregnancy, mild poisoning, overwork, or requiring treatment: sluggish infections, sprains, strokes.
An attentive and careful attitude to your health will avoid many serious consequences. The main thing is to contact a doctor with a problem in time and start the correct treatment.
Sometimes for a sluggish, subacute, or chronic inflammatory process the patient's body aches, but there is no temperature. Thus, the temperature indicates a difficult course of the disease, a strong intoxication of the body.
Since aches and fever are nonspecific symptoms, concomitant signs will help to specify a possible disease: cough, diarrhea, vomiting, chills, headache, frequent urination, and others. So, diarrhea in the symptom complex signals the penetration of infection into the intestines, but in children it also occurs with influenza or bronchitis.
Treatment for body aches with fever will depend on the underlying causes of the condition.
Etiology
If the patient's whole body aches and the temperature is 37 ° C, this unpleasant condition can be caused by the following causes of an inflammatory, infectious or colds nature:
Breaks the body and the temperature of 37 ° C with HIV infection, AIDS, other venereal diseases (genital herpes).
The same subfebrile temperature with aches is possible after extensive injuries, hypothermia, prolonged stress.
Women are often diagnosed with chronic aches and fibromyalgia combined with increased fatigue and insomnia in the absence of specific reasons.
Associated symptoms
Joint aches and fever are often accompanied by general weakness, chronic fatigue, sleep disturbances, migraines, coughs, chills, nausea, diarrhea, runny nose, depressive, stressful conditions.
Weakness
A breakdown in body aches and a temperature of 37-38 ° C is a sign of ARVI and other infections: flu, herpes, toxoplasmosis.
Cough
The same symptoms with a cough indicate an inflammatory infectious process in the respiratory organs, colds, SARS with respiratory tract damage.
Diarrhea, chills
Muscle aches and fever, accompanied by diarrhea, chills, indicates an intestinal infection: salmonellosis, severe poisoning, cholera, typhoid, or influenza and bronchitis in children.
Chills
Chills against a background of aches are a consequence of intoxication with any severe poisoning, as well as bronchitis, chickenpox, influenza, ARVI, tonsillitis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, hepatitis, pancreatitis, inflammation of the appendix.
Nausea
May also feel nauseous with the flu. Nausea with a feeling of aches and fever is also observed with meningitis, epidemic myalgia, encephalitis, toxic shock, upper respiratory tract infection with Candida fungus, herpes.
Headache
If, after a walk in the forest, you have a headache, body aches and a temperature of 38 ° C, you should look for ticks on the body and in any case get tested - perhaps these are symptoms of encephalitis.
The head also usually hurts with flu or colds.
Problems with urination (too frequent urge, pain) are characteristic of cystitis.
Lack of temperature
If the body aches without fever, the cause is usually physical stress, sprains, blows, sluggish infections, mild poisoning, pregnancy.
Diagnostics
With prolonged subfebrile temperature (37-38 ° С) diagnostics include:
Therapy
Treatment of aches with fever and without it, etiological, depends on the causes of inflammation, the causative agent of infection, additional symptoms.
If bones ache frequently and for no reason and the temperature is 37 ° C, these symptoms can be weakened with the help of moderate physical exertion (gymnastics, exercise therapy, long walks in the fresh air), general strengthening procedures, a vitamin diet (especially in the autumn-winter period), relaxing respiratory techniques, massage. With the correct daily routine and regular exercise, endorphins are intensively produced - natural anesthetics that help eliminate aches.
Elderly people suffering from chronic aches can benefit from a 30-40 minute nap.
Among the alternative means of treating fever aches are methods of physiotherapy, reflexology, acupuncture.
If the temperature of 38 ° C aching bones, you can rub the muscles, but you cannot use warming ointments, compresses.
In case of food poisoning, an urgent need to wash the stomach with the addition of soda or manganese and take activated charcoal at the rate of 1 tablet per kg of weight or "Smecta".
It is better to temporarily refrain from eating.
Influenza cannot be treated on its own, but general guidelines include frequent ventilation in the patient's room, bed rest, copious warm drinks, humidifying the air, and eating onions and garlic.
Don't forget to strengthen your body's immunity. In addition to traditional non-drug methods (hardening, sports and proper nutrition), the use of the natural drug Immunity shows good results.
Medicines
Medication for body aches and a temperature of 38 ° C includes taking the following drugs:
- muscle relaxants;
- anti-inflammatory drugs;
- anticonvulsants;
- sleeping pills;
- immunomodulatory (for example, "Cycloferon", "Arbidol", "Aflubina");
- antiviral;
- broad-spectrum antibiotics;
- antidepressants (prescribed for fibromyalgia, but only with a doctor's prescription);
- antipyretic (in case the temperature exceeds 38.5 ° C).
Traditional medicines
When joints ache and fever, the main treatment can be combined with additional folk remedies, for example, a vitamin cocktail of almonds: pour 10 pieces of almonds with water and leave to swell overnight, then peel, mix with a teaspoon of sugar, add cardamom, ginger in the same amount and mix on a blender. Dilute the mass with 200 ml of warm milk and drink in small sips.
Thus, the above symptoms are a serious cause for concern, especially if the symptoms persist for several days. Such signs can be evidence of both the initial stage of a cold, and dangerous viral infections or inflammation, extensive trauma. Sometimes the reasons for this condition cannot be identified, or there are several reasons at once. Treatment should be comprehensive, etiological and symptomatic.
Often, after excessive physical exertion or in the early stages of exercising in the gym, a person experiences aching pains throughout the body. As a rule, such painful sensations do not last more than a few days and go away on their own after the body gets the necessary rest. However, often the whole body hurts regularly for a long time, which can be a symptom of various rather serious diseases that require immediate treatment.
Why the whole body hurts: the main reasons
As you know, most often pain in the whole body is the body's response to various infectious diseases (may even be the result of pneumonia!), All kinds of injuries and physical overstrain.Various blood diseases (lymphoma, leukemia, etc.);
- The presence of a malignant tumor;
- Autoimmune diseases (for example, lupus);
- Damage to connective tissue (rheumatoid arthritis);
- Food poisoning;
- Tick bite.
Diseases of the blood and malignant tumors require immediate treatment, so if the body hurts constantly, but there are no symptoms of a cold, it is necessary to undergo an examination as soon as possible.
In autoimmune diseases and connective tissue damage, the pathogenic process inside the joints contributes to the spread of pain to the adjacent muscles. This explains the pain in the whole body, which prevents a person from living a full life.
The characteristic signs of rheumatoid arthritis are pain in the morning after sleep. As a rule, after the patient moves a little, they subside significantly. With osteoarthritis, the body hurts, on the contrary, in the evening.
Food poisoning can also be the answer to the question of why all the muscles in the body hurt. Often similar ailments accompanied by such additional symptoms as heat, general weakness of the body, sharp pains in the lower abdomen. Again, there are cases when the temperature is below normal, the patient experiences chills, cold sweat appears on the body and the whole body hurts.
The bites of certain ticks, which carry the infectious disease, can also provoke aching pains throughout the body. Determining the cause of the disease in this case is not difficult: as a rule, after such a bite, a rash appears in the form of small bubbles with clear liquid inside. In addition, reddening of the skin is often observed not only at the site of the bite, but also on other parts of the body.
Thus, if the body hurts constantly, you should immediately consult a doctor. After all, besides the fact that this symptom may indicate the presence of various diseases, it can often lead to the following problems:
Severe chronic pain followed by moderate pain;
- Fatigue;
- Insomnia;
- Weakening of the human immune system;
- Forced refusal to be active;
- Stress and mood swings;
- Other psychological problems (increased irritability, anxiety, unexplained fears, depression, etc.).
Why do all the muscles in the body hurt?
When the whole body hurts regularly, the cause can be, in addition to the aforementioned diseases, also such a common chronic illness like fibromyalgia. Despite the fact that, according to some reports, every tenth person on earth suffers from it, both the disease and its causes are still not fully understood. This is why fibromyalgia is rarely diagnosed. Nevertheless, this disease can very often explain why the whole body hurts. However, there are no laboratory tests to detect this ailment, so doctors have to rely on specific data from the general examination and the patient's complaints. The diagnosis is also complicated by the fact that the accompanying symptoms of this disease in different patients are completely different. Among the most common signs other than pain throughout the body, it can be noted:
Chronic tiredness
- Sleep disturbance;
- Dispersed pain in ligaments, tendons and muscles.
The following fact is also misleading doctors: some patients complain that the whole body hurts, while others, on the contrary, note specific centers of painful sensations. In this case, the diagnosis in patients is the same.
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In addition to symptomatic treatment aimed at relieving pain, with this diagnosis, antidepressants are often prescribed, designed in this case to restore the correct functioning of the brain.
If, when asked why the whole body hurts, the doctor replies that the patient has fibromyalgia, it is necessary first of all to exclude all kinds of stressful situations from his life. Together with this, as a rule, it is recommended:
Muscle relaxants;
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- Sleeping pills;
- Anticonvulsants;
- Manual therapy.
When general weakness is observed and the whole body hurts, you should seriously consider strengthening the immune system. Eating foods high in vitamins and taking frequent walks in the fresh air - the best means to combat the weakness of the body.
How to deal with pain throughout your body on your own
When the whole body hurts, it is usually accompanied by almost unbearable fatigue. In addition to some medications, exercise can greatly facilitate this condition. Of course, many patients avoid all kinds of physical exertion for fear of increasing pain. But moderate exercise, on the other hand, helps relieve pain and muscle stiffness.All muscles of the body hurt - symptoms of myalgia When the patient suffers from general weakness and the whole body hurts, regular physical activity can eliminate these symptoms: during exercise, the body releases endorphins, which are a natural pain reliever.
Do not forget about effective methods relaxation. When the whole body is in pain, breathing exercises and deep relaxation of the muscles can reduce pain quite quickly.
Alternative treatments include:
Acupuncture;
- Deep tissue massage;
- Neuromuscular massage.
Nevertheless, when the whole body hurts, you should seek the help of a specialist, identify their cause, and only then start treatment.
A source -
Tens of millions of people around the world suffer from periodic or chronic pain throughout the body that lasts more than six months. The pain can be mild or excruciating, episodic or constant, just uncomfortable or completely incapacitating. With chronic pain throughout the body, pain signals remain active for the nervous system for weeks, months, or even years. It can cause both physical and emotional harm to a person.
Sources of pain throughout the body
The most common sources of pain are associated with headaches, joint pain, injury pain, and back pain. Other types of intermittent or chronic pain throughout the body include tendonitis, headache, carpal tunnel syndrome, and pain affecting specific parts of the body such as the shoulders, pelvis, and neck. Generalized muscle or nerve pain can also develop into a chronic condition.
Whole body pain can begin with an initial injury / trauma or infection, or a cold. However, some people suffer from chronic pain in the absence of any past trauma or physical damage to the body.
With emotional trauma, chronic pain throughout the body can become much worse. Anxiety, stress, depression, anger, and fatigue interact in complex ways with chronic pain throughout the body and can reduce the effects of pain relievers. In addition, negative feelings can increase the level of substances that increase the sensation of pain, causing a closed loop of pain in a person. The immune system, which has been on the defensive so far, may give up: there is strong evidence that unbearable pain can suppress the immune system.
The mind-body are both associated with pain, and effective treatment requires a solution to both psychological and physical aspects.
What are the accompanying symptoms of chronic whole body pain?
- Moderate to severe pain in all parts of the body that does not subside
- Pain that can be described as shooting, pulling, or burning
- Feeling of discomfort, pain, heaviness in the muscles
- Pain throughout the body is not a symptom that there is only one source of the problem. Other problems associated with pain include conditions such as:
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Refusal to be active or, conversely, the person does not find time to rest
- Weakening of the immune system
- Changes in mood, including hopelessness, fear, depression, irritability, anxiety, stress
- Trauma
- Infectious diseases
- Internal diseases
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is the most common musculoskeletal disorder after osteoarthritis. However, the disease is not easy to diagnose. Its characteristics include a wide range of pain throughout the body: muscle and joint pain, fatigue, weakness, and other symptoms. Fibromyalgia can lead to depression and social isolation and even job loss.
What is fibromyalgia syndrome?
A syndrome is a collection of symptoms. When they all exist together, they imply the presence of specific diseases or the likelihood of developing an existing one disease. In fibromyalgia syndrome, the following symptoms are common in combination:
- anxiety or depression
- decrease in pain threshold
- paralyzing sensations in the limbs and a feeling of fatigue
- a wide range of pain - the whole body hurts
At-risk groups
More than 12 million people have fibromyalgia in the United States alone. Most of them are women, ranging in age from 25 to 60 years. Women are 10 times more likely to have whole body pain than men.
What is the localization and nature of pain throughout the body?
Pain throughout the body can cause pain in muscles, bones, joints. You may have symptoms of extreme fatigue while doing this. Specific tender points on the body can be painful to the touch. You may see swelling, deep-level disturbances or disturbed sleep on the body, as well as mood swings and depression.
Your muscles may feel like they've been overworked and pulled.
Some patients (especially those with fibromyalgia) also suffer from pain around the joints of the neck, shoulders, back, and hips. It becomes difficult for them even to sleep, let alone to exercise.
Body aches also include:
- stomach ache
- anxiety and depression
- chronic headaches
- difficulty maintaining sleep or restless sleep
- dry mouth, nose, and eyes
- fatigue
- hypersensitivity to cold and / or heat
- inability to concentrate
- urinary incontinence
- irritable bowel syndrome
- numbness or tingling in the fingers and toes
Body pain can cause signs and feelings similar to osteoarthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis. Some experts include arthritis and related disorders in this group.
Diagnosis of pain throughout the body
There are no specific laboratory tests to diagnose pain throughout the body, particularly the hard-to-diagnose fibromyalgia. Your doctor will rely on a comprehensive physical examination and your medical history to make an accurate diagnosis.
Your doctor may do some specific blood tests to identify serious conditions that are causing body pain. For example, a complete blood count. Your doctor may also recommend testing your glucose levels, as low levels can create problems similar to those caused by poor thyroid function.
An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) can cause pain throughout the body. Dysfunctions of the thyroid gland provoke fatigue, muscle pain, weakness, depression.
Other laboratory tests may include rheumatoid factor (RF), red blood cell (red blood cell) levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), prolactin hormone levels, calcium levels, and vitamin D levels.
Your doctor can also determine if your symptoms are similar to the fibromyalgia syndrome outlined in the medical criteria. These criteria include a wide range of pain throughout the body that lasts at least three months.
A wide spectrum refers to pain that occurs in both the right and left sides of the body, both above and below the waist, and in the chest, neck, and in the middle or lower back. Pain criteria also include the presence of painful points in different parts of the body.
How is fatigue treated with pain?
Along with deep muscle pain and tender spots, fatigue is a key symptom of pain throughout the body, in particular fibromyalgia, and it can seem like an insurmountable barrier. Not only do you feel drained and weak, but bed rest doesn't seem to help much. Many people with body aches and fatigue can sleep eight to 10 hours a night and feel like they haven't slept at all.
Fatigue, combined with pain throughout the body, often coincides with a mood of excitement, anxiety, or depression. Some people, along with the feeling of fatigue, especially suffer from pain around the joints of the neck, shoulders, back and hip. This condition makes falling asleep even more difficult, exacerbates feelings of sleepiness and fatigue.
Experts believe there are similarities between body pain and chronic fatigue syndrome. Both of these conditions are primarily characterized by constant, debilitating fatigue. Often times, people who experience pain throughout the body describe the feeling of fatigue as "brain fatigue." They tell doctors about total loss of energy and difficulty concentrating.
Some medicines can help relieve pain-related fatigue. In addition, exercise is one of the most effective strategies to help relieve fatigue, minimize pain, and improve sleep quality and mood.
How can exercise relieve pain symptoms?
Numerous studies show that exercise is one of the most important ways to treat whole body pain associated with fatigue or pain that occurs with fibromyalgia. Many people avoid exercise because they fear that the pain throughout their body will only get worse. However, with fatigue and lethargy, physical activity can help relieve pain and stiffness of muscles, and even help with depression, which often comes with pain.
Regular exercise increases the body's production of endorphins, which are natural pain relievers, which can also lift your mood. Start slowly and gradually increasing the duration and intensity of the exercise, and soon you will enjoy the benefits of exercise that will make your pain controllable.
Antidepressants in pain management
Your doctor may prescribe antidepressants such as Prozac, Paxil, or Zoloft. These drugs can help relieve feelings of depression, sleep disorders and pain. Recently, researchers have found that antiepileptic drugs hold promise for treating pain, in particular for fibromyalgia, which is difficult to treat.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including COX-2 inhibitors, have not been found to be effective for treating muscle pain. They usually do not work in the long term and can lead to health problems.
Antidepressants have been used for years to help relieve pain symptoms in various parts of the body and are often the first step towards treatment. Not only are antidepressants used to help reduce the emotional effects of this condition, but they can relieve symptoms of fibromyalgia, including pain, fatigue, depression, and sleep problems. Both earlier and newer antidepressants are used to treat different types pain.
Steroids
Steroids (such as prednisone) are used to treat inflammation associated with rheumatic conditions. They can very rarely relieve pain symptoms. However, steroid injections directly into the muscles (trigger points) can sometimes be used to relieve pain due to muscle cramps when other treatments have failed.
In addition to therapy, other therapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, can help develop a sense of self-control as well as pain control.
Alternative treatments for pain throughout the body
Alternative therapies, although not well-proven, can help manage pain symptoms depending on the cause of the pain. For example, massage therapy breaks down the muscles and soft tissues of the body and helps relieve deep muscle pain. It also helps relieve pain at certain points, relieve muscle spasms, relieve muscle tension. Likewise, massage that works on a wider range of muscles allows them to stretch slightly, soften, lengthen, and activate connective tissue formation to relieve pain discomfort.
Doctors recommend moderately intense aerobic exercise at least two or three times a week. They are also combined with methods such as hypnosis, acupuncture, therapeutic massage, manual therapy - manipulations to relieve pain.
Along with alternative therapies, it is important to take time each day to rest and relax. Relaxation techniques such as deep muscle relaxation or breathing exercises can help reduce stress, which can cause pain symptoms throughout the body. Sleeping for at least 8 hours in a row is very important for the body to repair itself during sleep.
The pains can be so debilitating that you might wonder about the effectiveness of alternative treatments. Some people with chronic pain should be aware of the following about alternative treatments
- Acupuncture. Some studies have shown that acupuncture can alter brain chemistry and increase pain tolerance
- Chiropractic. Chiropractic care can increase pain perception, reduce back pain, and increase the range of motion of the cervical and lumbar joints.
- Deep tissue massage. It can stimulate blood circulation and reduce chronic muscle tension pain.
- Neuromuscular massage. Neuromuscular massage combines the basic principles of ancient Eastern therapies such as acupressure and shiatsu with specific effects on deep muscle tissue. It can help relieve chronic muscle pain or myofascial pain (deep tissue pain).
- Biofeedback method. Biofeedback helps people manage stress and relieve chronic pain, according to the National Institutes of Health.
- Meditation. Research shows that when you meditate, the brain produces waves of serenity and happiness that help relieve the pain of anxiety.
When it comes to treating chronic pain throughout the body, medications and alternative remedies can be used to help reduce pain and improve sleep. There is no one-size-fits-all approach that best treats pain throughout the body. A combination of lifestyle strategies, medication, and alternative therapies are used as recommended by a physician.
What are the prospects for people with pain throughout the body?
Like everyone else, people with body aches often go through good and bad days. With proper treatment and correct diagnosis of the source of pain, most people will improve their health. People who continue to be active, socially and physically, despite their pain, ultimately improve their quality of life.