Know the causes and treatment for muscle pain
Muscle pain, also called myalgia, is experienced by many. The most common cause of localized muscle pain is overuse or injury of a muscle (strain). On the other hand, viral infections like influenza (the "flu") may cause systemic muscle pain, as can taking certain medications or having a disease like fibromyalgia or hypothyroidism. Muscle pain can feel different—aching, cramping, stabbing, or burning—depending on what's behind it. In the end, diagnosing the reason for your muscle pain requires a medical history, physical examination, and sometimes, blood and/or imaging tests. Rarely, a muscle biopsy is required. Once diagnosed, your doctor will devise a treatment plan—one that will hopefully give you the relief you deserve. Note that muscle pain in infants and children may have different causes than in adults. Causes: Due to the numerous potential causes of muscle pain , it's easiest to divide them into two categories—those related to localized muscle pain and those t...