As Doomerholt (pp. 1-2) states, “myalgia generally means muscle pains.” Hence, considering the fact that there exist many causes of muscle pains, Myogia is more of a warning indication of many underlying and undiagnosed health complications or disorders. Muscle pains can be an indication of numerous undiagnosed health complications, for example, autoimmune disease, multiple sclerosis, and Devic’s disease.
Depending on their causative agents and duration of existence without being attended to, the muscle pains can be chronic or temporary Therefore, because muscle pains can be caused by numerous factors or diseases that have common symptoms, it is important for individuals to seek quick medical attention once they experience chronic muscle pains, to avoid the wrong prognosis, which may complicate the underlying disorder or disease.
Causes of Myalgia
There exist numerous causes of muscle pains, which vary from the simple overstraining of muscles to complex health complications, for example, lupus, dengue fever, polio, and fibromyalgia. Medically, although certain genetically inherited medical complications can cause muscle pains, Myalgia is not a genetic condition, but rather it may indicate the presence of many underlying genetic anomalies in individuals; hence, making it an acquired condition.
Primary causes of Myalgia include injury and sprain to muscles overuse of muscles; mostly in prolonged exercises scenarios, and shock. Muscle pains are also common in individuals who use certain drugs, for example, cocaine, statins (cholesterol-reducing drugs), and ACE inhibitors (commonly used by patients with blood pressure anomalies).
Further, muscle pains can also be a result of mineral electrolyte imbalances, for example, potassium. Other common causes of Myalgia include autoimmune anomalies, for example, multiple sclerosis, metabolic defects such as Conn’s syndrome and hyperthyroidism, and health complications such as Rhabdomyolyis, Polymyolisis, polio, muscle abscess, influenza, dermatomyositis, hermohhagic fever, and Lyme disease (Gill and Quisel 182-184).
Symptoms of Myalgia
Common indications of muscle pain include sharp aches of certain muscles, pain within joints, extreme body weakness and fatigue, intermittent headaches, abnormal heartbeat rate (common in scenarios when heart muscles have been affected), persistent hearing and vision problems, respiratory distress, numbness or tickling feeling on somebody parts such as the face and legs (Health Central 1).
Diagnosis
Due to numerous cases of Myalgia, individuals should avoid the self-diagnosis, as this may complicate any underlying problem. The first step of diagnosis is an examination of the physical condition of the patient and analyzing the historical development of the condition.
This should be followed with lab tests that may include Myoglobin, thyroid function, glucose, aldolase, urinalysis, CBC (complete blood count), erythrocyte Sedimentation rate, Creatinine, electrolytes, and creatine kinase tests. Diagnosis can also include the use of electromyography to check the presence or absence of myopathy, Magnetic Resonance imaging, and muscle biopsy (for assessing any existing cases of inflammatory myopathies) (New Medical Information Health Information: NMIHI Para 5-9).
Treatment
Depending on the outcomes of the diagnosis, there exist a number of remedies to Myalgia. If the condition was caused by an underlying disease or disorder, then individuals have to take medication to cure the disorders or infections, by use of antimicrobial, steroids, immunosuppressive therapies, or in extreme cases surgery of the affected body part. In addition, individuals can treat the symptoms by stopping the use of certain drugs, resting accompanied with controlled exercising and taking medicines to correct mineral imbalances (Breast Cancer Organization 1).
Prognosis
Because, determining the underlying causes of Myalgia is hard without medical help, and considering the fact that some causes of Myalgia are fatal if unattended to, it is of significance for individuals to seek immediate medical attention once they experience continuous muscle and joint pains. Proper prognosis of Myalgia depends on correct diagnosis, and adoption of appropriate treatment remedies to alleviate the likelihood of any complication resulting.
Therefore if a correct prognosis is done, the likelihoods of providing lasting solutions to the underlying diseases or disorders are high. This is of great significance for the maintenance of a healthy body; hence, a quality life. However, if a wrong prognosis is done, the probability of the adopted treatment remedy complicating the underlying disorder or disease is high; hence, greatly impairing one’s wellbeing and quality of life (New Medical Information Health Information: NMIHI Para 9-11).
Works Cited
Breast Cancer Organization. Muscle pain (Myalgia). Breast cancer Organization. 2010. Web.
Gill, James, and Quisel, Anna. Fibromyalgia and diffuse Myalgia. Clinics in Family Practice, 7.2 (2005): 181-190. Web.
Health Central. Myalgia symptoms. Health Central. 2010. Web.
Mommerholt, Jan. Persistent Myalgia following whiplash. Current Pain and Headaches, 9, (2005):326- 330. Web.
New Medical Information Health Information: NMIHI. Myalgia and Myositis. NMIHI. 2010. Web.