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Feeling sick often comes with muscle aches, which can be frustrating and uncomfortable. This is your body's way of signalling that something is wrong. Muscle soreness is usually caused by inflammation due to your immune system kicking into high gear to fight off invading germs, viruses, or bacteria. This is known as myalgia, the medical term for muscle pain, and can be treated with over-the-counter medications, gentle exercise, and hydration.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Medical term | Myalgia |
| Cause | Viral infections, bacterial infections, inflammation, autoimmune disorders, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, medication side effects, alcohol withdrawal, drug withdrawal, fluid retention |
| Treatment | Rest, hydration, gentle exercise, heating pads, blankets, warm bath, over-the-counter medications (NSAIDs, acetaminophen, ibuprofen), prescription medications, topical pain-relieving creams and patches |
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What You'll Learn
Inflammation caused by the immune system fighting infection
When you're feeling sick, it's quite common to experience body aches, often accompanied by viral illnesses such as the common cold and the flu. This is known as myalgia, and it can affect any part of your body, causing discomfort and fatigue. Myalgia can be treated with over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and it is important to rest and stay hydrated.
Inflammation is a common response of the immune system to infection. When you're sick, your immune system springs into action, releasing white blood cells to fight off the infection. This immune response can lead to inflammation, which in turn causes muscle aches and soreness. This is because the body's defence system is working hard to protect you from illness.
In some cases, the immune system can mistakenly attack the body's own muscles, leading to a condition called myositis. Myositis is a rare autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation and weakness in the muscles. It can affect different muscle groups throughout the body and is characterised by episodes of inflammation and muscle pain. While there is no cure for myositis, treatments such as physical therapy and medications like anti-inflammatories and steroids can help manage the symptoms.
The connection between the immune system and sleep is also worth noting. Sleep strengthens the immune system, and when the body is fighting an infection, it often craves more sleep. However, other symptoms of illness can make it challenging to get restful sleep. Therefore, it is essential to prioritise rest when sick, as it helps relax the muscles and speeds up recovery.
Additionally, staying hydrated is crucial when experiencing muscle aches due to illness. Dehydration can exacerbate muscle soreness, and illnesses that cause vomiting or diarrhoea can further contribute to fluid loss. Drinking plenty of water, broth, tea, or electrolyte drinks can help maintain hydration and support the body's ability to fight infection.
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Dehydration caused by sickness symptoms
Dehydration is a condition in which a person loses more body fluids than they take in, causing their body to not function normally. It can occur when a person loses fluids through sweating, vomiting, fever, or diarrhea. These are all common symptoms of sickness, and therefore, sickness can cause dehydration.
When a person is sick, they may not feel like drinking water, but it is important to increase water intake during illness to prevent dehydration. This is especially important for infants, young children, and older adults, who are at a higher risk of dehydration. Young children may not be able to communicate that they are thirsty, and older adults may not feel thirsty until they are already dehydrated.
Mild dehydration can usually be treated by drinking more fluids, such as water, broth, tea, or electrolyte drinks. Soup is also a great way to stay hydrated and can be easier to consume when someone is struggling to eat solid foods. However, moderate to severe dehydration may require medical treatment, such as receiving fluids through an IV.
Dehydration can cause muscle aches, among other symptoms. When a person is sick, their immune system releases white blood cells to fight off the infection, causing inflammation, which can lead to muscle soreness and body aches. Therefore, staying hydrated when sick is important to help alleviate muscle aches and promote faster recovery.
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Home remedies to alleviate muscle aches
When you're feeling unwell, it's quite common to experience body aches. This is your body's way of signalling that something is wrong. When you're sick, your immune system kicks into high gear to combat the invading germs, and this immune response often results in inflammation and muscle soreness.
Rest
It is crucial to give yourself time to heal. Sleep allows the body to rest and recuperate, and a lack of sleep can cause muscle aches.
Hydration
Staying hydrated is important, especially if you are experiencing symptoms such as vomiting or diarrhoea, which can lead to dehydration. Water is essential to your body's normal functioning and its ability to fight infection. Drink plenty of water, broth, tea, or electrolyte drinks.
Heat
Heat can loosen muscles and provide relief from body aches. A warm bath or shower can be relaxing, but it's important to avoid making the temperature too hot, maintaining just above lukewarm water. Heating pads or blankets can also offer comfort, but excessive heat should be avoided, and they should not be used if there is a chance you may fall asleep.
Gentle Movement
While rest is vital, gentle movements such as stretching can prevent stiffness and alleviate muscle aches.
Over-the-counter medications
Non-prescription pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help alleviate muscle aches.
Meditation
Meditation has been shown to alleviate chronic pain by altering areas of the brain responsible for processing pain and reducing stress levels. Types of meditation include mindfulness, body scanning, breathwork, visualisation, and guided imagery.
Magnesium sulphate
Magnesium sulphate, or Epsom salt, is a natural treatment to relax sore muscles and ease joint stiffness. Soaking in a tub of warm water mixed with one to two cups of Epsom salts can provide effective relief.
It is important to note that if your symptoms persist, you should seek advice from a healthcare professional.
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Medication to reduce muscle pain
Being sick can cause muscle aches due to inflammation as your body fights off infection. This is known as myalgia, which is the medical term for muscle pain. Myalgia can affect any part of your body and is usually temporary and not serious. However, it can sometimes be a symptom of a long-term condition. It is important to take your pain seriously and seek medical attention if needed.
To reduce muscle pain, there are several medications available:
Non-prescription pain relievers
Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), acetaminophen, diclofenac, or naproxen (Aleve) can help reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. These are easily accessible over-the-counter medications that can provide effective relief for muscle aches.
Topical rubs
Topical applications containing methyl salicylate (Arthricare, Exocaine), capsaicin, lidocaine, or menthol (LidoStream, Veltrix) can be applied directly to the affected area to provide targeted pain relief. These rubs can be especially useful for localized muscle pain.
Muscle relaxants
Muscle relaxants are prescription medications that help regulate muscle contractions and reduce pain caused by muscle spasms and stiffness. They are typically prescribed for severe pain or when other treatments have proven ineffective. Muscle relaxants can be administered orally, through injection, or intravenously, depending on the situation and patient needs.
In addition to medication, there are other ways to manage muscle pain:
- Gentle exercise and stretching can prevent stiffness and alleviate muscle aches.
- Staying hydrated is important, especially when dealing with sickness, as it aids organ function and helps flush out toxins.
- Heat therapy, such as a warm bath or shower, can loosen muscles and provide relief.
- Massage, meditation, or acupuncture can complement conventional treatments.
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Exercise to prevent stiffness
While being sick, it is quite common to experience body aches, often accompanied by viral illnesses such as the common cold and the flu. This is known as myalgia, which can affect any part of the body and cause discomfort and fatigue. Myalgia can be treated with over-the-counter medications such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, and it is important to rest and stay hydrated. Gentle exercises and stretching can also help prevent stiffness and alleviate muscle aches. Here are some exercises to prevent stiffness:
- Standing Forward Stretch: This stretch eases tension in the spine, neck, back, and hamstrings. Stand straight with your hands by your sides, then swing your hands up while breathing in and gradually bend forward to touch your toes. You can bend your knees if needed, and don't worry if you can't touch your toes right away—flexibility will improve with daily practice.
- Shoulder Stretch: This stretch is ideal for those who sit at a desk all day and helps relieve tension and stress in the neck and shoulders. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and interlace your fingers with your palms facing outwards. Stretch your arms forward, rounding your shoulders and upper back, and bend your chin towards your chest. For the posterior stretch, interlace your fingers or hands behind you, roll your shoulders down, and expand your chest.
- Standing Quad Stretch: This stretch gives your knees a break and improves your range of motion and posture. Stand upright and bend your right knee, holding your foot behind you. You can either raise your left hand or stretch it out to the side. Focus on maintaining your balance. This stretch can also be done against a wall if you're having trouble balancing.
- Spinal Twist: This exercise improves the flexibility of your spine, which is crucial for the health of your surrounding organs and your overall posture. Sit on the floor with your legs crossed and your spine upright, placing your left palm on your right knee, and your right hand on the floor behind you. Gradually twist your back to the right, feeling the stretch from the base of your spine up to your neck.
These exercises can help prevent and alleviate stiffness and soreness in your body, especially when done regularly and in combination with adequate rest and hydration.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, muscle aches are a common symptom of viral illnesses such as the common cold and the flu. This is because the immune system releases white blood cells to fight off the infection, causing inflammation and muscle soreness.
Muscle aches when you are sick are called myalgia. Myalgia means muscle pain and can affect any part of your body.
There are several strategies you can try to relieve muscle aches when you're sick. These include:
- Drinking plenty of water or other hydrating fluids like tea, broth, or electrolyte drinks.
- Getting plenty of rest.
- Taking non-prescription pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- Applying topical pain-relieving creams or patches.
- Using heating pads or blankets, or taking warm baths or showers.
Muscle aches caused by a viral sickness will usually go away within a few days to two weeks. However, if your muscle aches are severe or persist despite trying home remedies, you should consult a doctor as it could be a sign of a more serious condition.
