How To Deal With Musculoskeletal Pain?
What is musculoskeletal pain?
Musculoskeletal pain is the form of pain that affects:
Bones
Muscles
Joints
Ligaments
Tendons
Musculoskeletal pain can be acute or chronic, meaning the pain is sudden and severe or prolonged-lasting, respectively. Also, it is possible that you may have pain in one area of your body, localized pain, or the pain may affect your entire body.
There are several types of musculoskeletal pain; the most common of them include:
Bone pain: Musculoskeletal injuries or other bone injuries, such as bone fractures, can cause bone pain. A tumor may rarely cause bone pain.
Muscle pain: Injuries, muscle spasms, and cramps can cause muscle pain. Moreover, some infections or tumors may also lead to muscle pain.
Joint pain: Stiffness and inflammation of joints often occur with pain. Joint pain worsens with activity and gets better with rest for many people.
Tendon and ligament pain: Tendons and ligaments are strong bands of tissue that connect your bones and joints. Injuries, sprains, strains, and overuse can lead to pain in the tendon or ligament.
What are the causes of musculoskeletal pain?
The following causes musculoskeletal pain commonly:
Bone fractures
Joint dislocation
Sprains
Direct blows to muscles, bones, or joints
Overuse injuries
Poor posture
What are the symptoms of musculoskeletal pain?
The symptoms of musculoskeletal pain in you may vary depending on the cause of your musculoskeletal pain. Common symptoms include:
Aching and stiffness
Burning sensations in the muscles
Fatigue
Muscle cramps
Sleep disturbances
Pain that worsens with movement
How can you diagnose musculoskeletal pain?
As you know that musculoskeletal pain can have several different causes, your doctor will first ask about your symptoms. Your healthcare provider may start the diagnosis by thoroughly asking about your medical history. The questions they may ask you to determine the condition include:
How long have you been experiencing the pain?
Where does it hurt?
What were you doing when you started feeling the pain (for example, working out or playing sports)?
What does the pain feel like (stabbing, burning, aching, tingling)?
Do you have other symptoms (rash, fever, trouble sleeping, fatigue, etc.)?
Whether your pain is acute or chronic.
Which factors worsen the pain?
Which factors relieve the pain?
After asking all these questions, your healthcare provider might press on or move the hands on the affected area in different directions to find the exact location and source of your pain.
What tests might you need for diagnosing musculoskeletal pain?
Your healthcare provider may ask you to get tested to find the underlying cause of the pain. A number of tests that they can recommend to pinpoint the cause of your pain include:
Blood tests for signs of inflammation that might suggest arthritis
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to find problems with soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons.
X-rays or Computed tomography (CT) scans to find problems with the bones.
Joint fluid testing to look for any infections or crystals that cause gout
How can you treat musculoskeletal pain?
Usually, musculoskeletal pain gets better with proper treatment only. If there is an underlying cause of musculoskeletal pain, treating that condition can help relieve symptoms. Physical therapists, osteopaths, orthopedic specialists, rheumatologists, and other specialists can be involved in treating musculoskeletal pain. The treatment you get is based on the cause of your pain. There are several treatment options. However, it is always better to speak with your doctor before starting any treatments.
Medications
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) or other pain killers
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), for example, aspirin, naproxen (Aleve), or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
Corticosteroid injections into the affected area (depending on the area)
Opioids, but only for very severe pain because of the risk of dependency and side effects. It is the most common way of treating pain being used but has many side effects. Unfortunately, opioids are highly addictive and closely related to overdose deaths in the U.S. Research indicates that 70 percent of the deaths in 2019 due to overdose were related to opioids.
Oxytocin, mostly intranasal spray as it, is the best option to treat musculoskeletal pain.
Complementary therapies
Acupuncture
Herbal, mineral, and vitamin supplements
Hands-on therapy
Therapeutic massage
Physical therapy
Chiropractic or osteopathic manipulation
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps to talk to someone about your pain sometimes. They might teach you ways to manage your pain more effectively.
Aids and devices
Orthotics
Lumbar supports
Taping
Braces
Surgical Procedures
Surgery is usually the option in cases that don’t show improvement with other treatments. Surgical procedures to treat musculoskeletal pain may include:
Joint replacement
Soft tissue and cartilage repair
Laminectomy
Arthroscopy
Treating musculoskeletal pain at home
Your healthcare provider may guide you in managing musculoskeletal pain at home. Recommendations may include:
Avoiding overuse
For injuries or other problems related to overuse, your healthcare provider might recommend resting the affected body part until it gets better.
Stretching exercises
If you have arthritis or similar muscle pain, stretching and other exercises under the guidance of a physical therapist can be helpful.
Apply ice and heat
You can use ice and heat to soothe the pain. Ice reduces swelling and relieves the pain if applied to the affected area immediately after an injury. On the other hand, heat relieves stiffness a few days after the injury.
Over-the-counter pain relievers
Its anti-inflammatory characteristics are better for muscle soreness and body aches stemming from inflammation.
Strengthening and conditioning exercises
Exercise helps increase the strength and size of your muscles, ligaments, and tendons. It also widens the capillaries that supply blood to your skeletal muscles.
Stress reduction techniques
Any stress-reducing or relaxation techniques could be effective for patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain.
How can you prevent musculoskeletal pain?
Strong bones and joints are essential for preventing musculoskeletal pain management. You can avoid musculoskeletal pain by:
Limiting repetitive movements
Keeping good posture
Practicing correct lifting techniques
Stretching regularly
Which factors put you at higher risk for developing musculoskeletal pain?
Several factors may increase your risk of developing musculoskeletal pain, some of which are:
Arthritis
If you have arthritis, your joints may be inflamed, stiff and painful.
Fibromyalgia
People with fibromyalgia experience muscle, tendon, or ligament pain. It is a chronic illness that causes musculoskeletal pain and fatigue.
“Tunnel” syndromes
A few conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, and tarsal tunnel syndrome cause pinched nerves or nerve compression. These are often caused by overuse injuries.
When should you seek care for musculoskeletal pain?
If your pain becomes intolerably intense and starts interfering with your daily activities, speak with a healthcare provider immediately. Please seek medical help if you have sudden and severe pain from an injury.
How can you best cope with musculoskeletal pain?
In order to cope with musculoskeletal pain, you can try:
Avoid smoking because it increases inflammation.
Eating a healthy and non-inflammatory diet.
Resting the injured muscle, joint, or bone.
Stretching regularly or as advised by your healthcare provider.
Take pain medications as prescribed by the doctor.
Using ice and heat to reduce swelling and inflammation.
A note from Harbor Compounding Pharmacy
Musculoskeletal pain can cause extreme discomfort and hence disturb your daily activities. In some people, any sudden injury, for instance, bone fracture, can cause severe pain. In others, underlying conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia, lead to intolerable pain. Musculoskeletal pain can have several sources, not always arising in the muscles, bones, and joints themselves.
If you have severe pain or don’t improve in a few weeks, speak with one of our specialized support providers for a checkup to find the cause. Despite the fact that your musculoskeletal pain is acute or chronic, the proper treatment can relieve your symptoms. Harbor Compounding Pharmacy in California to offer higher fitness answers. The purpose of this fitness, pharmacy is to offer answers to all fitness-associated issues. To preserve work-lifestyle balance, it offers remedies for all sicknesses and fitness counseling.
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