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What Causes Myalgia?

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Posted on Sat, 16 May 2015
Question: I am 50 yrs old about a year ago I started having joint and muscle pain. My right side is affected the most. I had neck surgery a year in a half ago because of degenerated disc disease according to my doctor. Surgery was great, but now I'm stiff and ache nothing takes the pain away. Moving helps relieve it but when I sit still very long if feel a hundred years old. I am 5' 127lbs use to have really exercised for seven yrs. Was active. I have been under emotional stress which makes the pain worse. No I haven't seen a doctor yet. Not sure what to have them check. My mother had osteoporosis and my dads mother had rheumatoid arthritis my daughter was diagnosed with crohns disease 4yrs ago.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (42 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Cause of myalgia

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

thank you for writing on health care magic

Well i have gone through your history and the past history as well. I would like to ask you a few more queries before i can direct your further:

1. The pain in the right side you mentioned, it is in the muscle or the joint?Does it involve both the upper or the lower limb?

2. Do you experience any swelling as well?

3. Any associated tingling and numbness?

4. Do you still have neck pain, after surgery??

5. Do you have your periods still or the menopause has come?

6. how about your quality of sleep??Any irritability or forgetfullness??

Do let me know these queries. WIll try to localise the pain first and then I can guide you to your doctor on what he should be looking for

Await your reply

Regards
Dr Naval

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Naval Mendiratta (46 hours later)
1. It in the upper arm but just below the shoulder so I would say both its hard to describe.

2. The swelling I experience is in my hands and feet. The stiffness and pain I feel occurs after sitting for a half or more. Once I move around stretch I loosen up. As if the joints are swollen and stuck.
3. Struggle with tingling and numbness often depending on body positions or pressure points almost. The affected area is general located in the hands and finger tips.

4. The pain is different not direct nerve pain I associated with the neck prior to surgery. My neck and spine and hip do go out of place and I have them adjusted. My neck I do myself and it isn't a constant pain or irritation. So no I don't feel I have pain after surgery. I do believe something is affecting my muscles to cause them to tense and spasm, which in turn the muscles begin tightening and I believe pull my vertebrate out of alignment.

5. I am coming to the end of menopause I have not had a period in a year. But still have hot flashes.

6. I have never slept much in my life, for more then six seven XXXXXXX at a time. Even then I do wake minimum once a evening to use the restroom. I toss and turn frequent do to discomfort and pain. I have irritable from being tired and struggle staying a wake often during the work day..

Now, my opinion when evaluating my body and its function pattern currently and for the past year is tight almost knotted in mu muscles. I have seen a massage therapist and they have e commented on the extreme tension in my neck and shoulder area. I have noticed a significant difference in the constant pain I have and the levels of intensity have a direct connection with the tightness in my muscles. Which came first chicken or egg? Not sure which is the original problem muscle, or degenerated disc. My surgeon did a fantastic job. Although I have been informed by him it would not be my last surgery.


Help Please
doctor
Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (15 hours later)
Brief Answer:
Myalgia

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

Sorry for the delayed reply. Was caught up in the hospital shifts

Well the sort of pain you are describing, is a bit hard to localize where exactly it is coming from. You have a widespread pain all over which gets worse with stress. Plus, the previous surgery and the menopause around the corner gives you a lot of fluctuations causing pain, tingling and numbness.

As for localizing the causes of peripheral pain, it is definately not your joints.

For muscle inflammation, you dont have any accompanying weakness to attribute the swelling there. It can just be a muscle pain due to secondary causes affecting the muscle, but nothing within the muscles

3rd, coming to the nerves which can cause the tingling, numbness and diffuse pain, I feel we need to investigate into it. A nerve conduction studies I would recommend to get it done, to be sure we are not dealing with some form of neuropathy or any origin from your spine.

Lastly, if all these are good and we can find the source of pain, the last diagnosis which remain is Fibromyalgia( Chronic Pain syndrome). It is a common cause of pain due to disturbance in the brain center, precipitated by stress and accompanies forgetfulness, irritability, lack of sleep, fatigue.. But as mentioned, we will keep that as the last diagnosis when nothing fits in.

Hope the information was useful. It is a bit hard to say the exact cause without examining you, but just to cut down to minimum causes these are the few ones which we should work on. Also, i would recommend you supplement yourself with Vitamin D as you are nearing menopause and the bone problems you have faced earlier.

Do let me know for more queries

REgards
Dr NAval

Note: For further information on diet changes to reduce allergy symptoms or to boost your immunity, Ask here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Neel Kudchadkar
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Answered by
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Dr. Naval Mendiratta

Rheumatologist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 754 Questions

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What Causes Myalgia?

Brief Answer: Cause of myalgia Detailed Answer: Good evening thank you for writing on health care magic Well i have gone through your history and the past history as well. I would like to ask you a few more queries before i can direct your further: 1. The pain in the right side you mentioned, it is in the muscle or the joint?Does it involve both the upper or the lower limb? 2. Do you experience any swelling as well? 3. Any associated tingling and numbness? 4. Do you still have neck pain, after surgery?? 5. Do you have your periods still or the menopause has come? 6. how about your quality of sleep??Any irritability or forgetfullness?? Do let me know these queries. WIll try to localise the pain first and then I can guide you to your doctor on what he should be looking for Await your reply Regards Dr Naval