In the span of our lives it is likely that we will eventually succumb to some form of muscle or joint pain, as it becomes more common with aging. Whether it’s our Ankles, Knees, Hips, Back, Shoulders, Neck, Hands, etc, it doesn’t feel good and it’s best to know how to get rid of it. Depending on the cause, it can be relieved altogether or at least mitigated to a tolerable degree. If untreated, muscle and joint pain can lead to decreased range of motion, immobility, inactivity, damage to bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage, sleep disturbances, and a poor quality of life. It can be felt in just one joint or area of the body to multiple, or even full body, which is usually a symptom of a more serious illness.

Joint pain is more commonly felt when the body is at rest and tends to be accompanied by stiffness and swelling. Injuries to the structures of a joint can take longer to heal due to the little to no blood flow in tendons and ligaments and the chance for re-injury is high, especially if improperly treated. Muscle related pain is usually described as a sore feeling and can be coupled with spasms or cramps (involuntary tightening and relaxing) and a weakening of the affected muscle. Movement will often help alleviate muscle pain but will more often make joint pain worse. The most common form of muscle and joint pain is low back pain.

Muscle and joint pain can range from mild discomfort and soreness to more sharp and intense pain. It can span the full body if it is from a joint related issue like arthritis, or be more centralized, especially if from an injury. Activity related pain will be temporary most of the time and get better with proper rest which can include foam rolling, stretching, massages, acupuncture, or applying heat. In the case of an injury, movement will aggravate it and increase the pain. If from an illness or infection, the pain can be accompanied by a fever. Along with the pain, there are usually other symptoms such as stiffness, swelling, spasms, cramps, weakness, fatigue, or inflammation. Serious injuries or chronic pain can lead to further symptoms like decreased range of motion, immobility, inactivity, damage to bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage, sleep disturbances, and thus a poor quality of life.

People experience pain differently, and it can depend on the amount of stress in an individual’s life, lack of activity, or lifestyle choices. Thus it can be helpful to seek a professional’s help and describe in detail all your symptoms to find the cause. Taking note of where the pain is coming from, what time of day it is at its worst, which activities make it better or worse, and when it started can be very helpful in pinpointing the cause and finding relief.