Guide to Muscle Aches

Muscle aches develop from their overuse, physical tension or an injury due to exercise or overexertion. Because of the nature of muscle pain, you know almost immediately when you have hurt yourself and what has caused the pain. If you are sick, your body may respond with muscle achiness as one symptom. If you have a chronic condition like lupus, you develop pain in the connective tissues in different areas of your body.

Some drugs, such as cocaine, ACE inhibitors or statins (used to lower cholesterol levels) may cause muscle aches. If you have injured yourself, you should be able to care for your muscle pain at home by using moist heat, ice, gentle massaging and painkillers.

Talk to your doctor if your pain goes on for longer than three days, if the pain is severe and unexplainable, accompanied by rash, swelling, signs of infection or poor circulation. Learn more about muscle pain by reading our Bright Hub guides.

Image Credit: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=1408: X-Ray of Broken Bone Credit Boaz Yiftach