Eighteen or eighty, constant body aches can affect anyone and can be a harrowing experience for those suffering from it. The most common types are head, 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 body pain you should know about.
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 very much resembling those you might experience during flu. But there are other symptoms that occur along with the pain, they are:
- Fever
- When the pain becomes severe, tenderness in the joint areas
- Inflammation of the muscles
- Lack of sleep due to constant pain
- Weakness and the general feeling of being sick.
Disease that might cause constant body aches:
Diseases #1: Fibromyalgia
This is a disorder with hallmark symptoms of, chronic widespread pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances that negatively affects the quality of life. Apart from that there are other key symptoms like:
- Tenderness,
- 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
How is it treated?
To relieve pain and to 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 asanasfor stress relief and cognitive-behavioral therapy.
In some cases, non-pharmacologic treatment has shown to be more useful than medications alone. For example, studies have shown that yoga, accupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), are valid therapeutic methods for fibromyalgia.
Diseases #2: Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
The symptoms are almost same except that in fibromyalgia widespread body ache, whereas extreme fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest is how doctors diagnose CFS.
Disease #3: Lyme disease
Lyme disease is caused by bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi that spreads through the bite of the blacklegged tick. If you have this condition then you might notice symptoms such as:
- 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,
How is it treated?
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 wooded or bushy areas.
Disease# 4: Stress
Clichéd but true, stress can also be responsible for constant body aches. 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. You can read about ways to deal with stress.
Diseases #5: 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
- Frequent fractures that are caused due to injuries that
How is it treated?
Once diagnosed it is easy to treat this condition with vitamin D supplements and a well balanced diet.
Diseases #6: Lack of iron in the blood
Also known as iron deficiency 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 your 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 mails and hair
- Dizziness
- Moodiness and irritability
How is it treated?
The treatment of iron deficiency anaemia involves iron replacement therapies including tables and syrups. Apart from that you will be required to eat foods rich in iron content and a healthy lifestyle.
Diseases #7: 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
How is it treated:
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.
Disease #8: 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.
Disease #9: 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
Disease #10: 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 too 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. ‘If the patient does not show any improvement after about 6–8 weeks of anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT) then alternate diagnosis (for cancer) should be strongly considered’, says Dr Ashish Goel, at the Department of Medicine, AIIMS,New Delhi.
So, don’t ignore that body ache. Get a diagnosis as soon as possible and immediately if the pain gets worse.
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