Underlying Causes of Musculoskeletal Pain: Symptoms, Types & Relief

Musculoskeletal pain can be very excruciating because it affects the body’s bones, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. This type of pain can be felt acutely with severe symptoms or chronically with ongoing symptoms that come and go over time. While many people learn to quietly endure these symptoms, they can become unmanageable and debilitating if left untreated. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of treatment options available for musculoskeletal pain sufferers depending on the source of the pain. Here is some basic information about musculoskeletal pain, including who it affects, where it is felt, its causes, common symptoms, and how pain relievers can help.

Causes of Musculoskeletal Pain

There are many different things that can cause musculoskeletal pain in the human body. One of the most common causes is an injury that affects the bones, muscles, joints, nerves, ligaments, or tendons. Certain jerking motions associated with injuries are often to blame for creating this kind of pain. This is because sudden trauma and impact can send shocks through the body that disrupt normal functioning. Therefore, automobile accidents and slip-and-fall accidents are common causes of musculoskeletal pain. A muscle sprain, bone fracture, or joint dislocation can also cause this type of pain in the body. Another common cause of musculoskeletal pain is overuse of a certain part of the body, such as the lower back. Individuals who do heavy lifting as part of their work are especially prone to musculoskeletal pain because of overuse of the lower back muscles. If an individual is bedridden for a long period of time or practices poor posture on a daily basis, musculoskeletal pain may result as well.

Types of Musculoskeletal Pain

It can be very difficult to treat musculoskeletal pain until a diagnosis of its type is determined. For example, musculoskeletal pain caused by a ligament or tendon issue can worsen when the area of a sprain is mobilized. Musculoskeletal pain due to a particular muscle can be caused by an injury, loss of blood flow, an infection, or even an autoimmune reaction. A bone issue that results in musculoskeletal pain can be very painful and be caused by a fracture or tumor. Other medical issues, like fibromyalgia and carpal tunnel syndrome, can also cause musculoskeletal pain.

Symptoms of Musculoskeletal Pain

While musculoskeletal pain feels different to each individual person, there are certain symptoms that are common, regardless of what caused the pain to develop in the first place. The symptoms can be either very localized to one part of the body or widespread throughout the body. Muscle twitches, overall stiffness, fatigue, and poor sleep are also common symptoms.

How To Alleviate Musculoskeletal Pain

Treatment options to discuss with a physician include physical or occupational therapy, heat and cold therapy, strengthening and conditioning exercises, therapeutic massage, and chiropractic care.