Pain all over the body
introduction
Pain all over the body can vary greatly. Patients perceive the pain very differently. They can appear in bursts and sometimes be stronger or weaker. The pain can also be permanent and cause great discomfort for the patient. As a result, many patients are restricted in their everyday life or at work.
causes
There are various causes of pain all over the body. The pain can come from the muscles, joints or nerves. In most cases, there is an underlying medical condition that is causing the pain. For example, diseases from the rheumatic group come into question. Different joints are affected by rheumatism or osteoarthritis at the same time, mostly symmetrically. The joints regularly hurt and also swell. Increasing wear and tear on the bony structures is responsible for this.
There may also be various infectious diseases that can spread throughout the body and cause general ailments. For example, there may be herpes zoster, which causes shingles. It spreads like a belt along the stomach and back and can be very painful.
Furthermore, there is also the possibility that the pain originates from the bones and that it is tumors or metastases. Osteoporosis, a bone disease in which the bone substance is increasingly broken down, can also cause such symptoms.
A serotonin deficiency can also lead to increased pain sensation, since serotonin, as a messenger substance in the central nervous system, has a pain-relieving effect.
Read more on the topic: You can recognize a magnesium deficiency by these symptoms
rheumatism
Rheumatism covers various diseases that are associated with various complaints of the musculoskeletal system, i.e. the joints or muscles. Pain is found in several places in the body and is usually symmetrically distributed. The pain is associated with functional restrictions. With the various rheumatic diseases, typical body regions or places are affected. In addition to pain and functional restrictions, a variety of other symptoms can occur. The symptoms are caused by the body's misdirected immune reactions. The illnesses themselves cannot be cured, but medication can alleviate them.
multiple sclerosis
The multiple sclerosis, also abbreviated to MS or encephalomyelitis disseminata, is a chronic inflammatory disease. She is one of the Autoimmune diseases. The body's own defense system attacks the central nervous system such as the spinal cord and brain. In particular, the immune cells attack the sheath (myelin sheath) of the individual nerve fibers. This process is known as Demyelination. The nerve fibers are increasingly destroyed and are ultimately no longer able to transmit excitations. It follows that nerves fail and muscles can no longer be moved. Kick it Signs of paralysis on.
The attack by the immune cells creates scattered foci of inflammation, which can cause the patient considerable pain throughout the body. Multiple sclerosis runs in stages. The first sign is often decreased vision, as the optic nerve can be affected quickly. As the disease progresses, the symptoms become more severe.
The patient gets sensory disturbances in the arms and legs, generally feels very tired, later walking and standing become more and more difficult and control over the emptying of the bladder and bowel can be disturbed.Ultimately, paralysis of the face and other muscles occurs, so that at some point the patients are no longer able to look after and care for themselves. So far, multiple sclerosis has not been curable and can only be slowed down with medication.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a fiber-muscle pain. It is a chronic but not inflammatory disease of the skeletal system. Various symptoms occur, which is why one speaks of a fibromyalgia syndrome. Those affected often complain of "pain all over the body such as sore muscles". How severe the symptoms are depends on the severity of the disease. Both mild and severe forms of fibromyalgia are known. Pain in muscles and joints occurs throughout the body. They are particularly common on the neck, back, arms and legs, and stomach.
The pain is accompanied by severe fatigue and sleep disorders. Patients usually cannot fall asleep well or stay asleep because they often wake up from the pain. At the same time the patient freezes or sweats profusely. The hands and feet are particularly affected.
Further complaints can originate from various organs. Among other things, irritable bowel syndrome and an increased urge to urinate occur.
The heart and lungs can also cause various problems. Another big problem is the psychological situation of those affected. They often also suffer from depression, anxiety and difficulty concentrating. They are often without drive, but they also have an inner restlessness. Stress is often a factor that makes symptoms worse. The symptoms a patient has can vary widely, which is why the disease is not always easy to diagnose.
The exact cause is unclear, it is assumed that the pain processing has changed. Life expectancy is not reduced in fibromyalgia. Physiotherapeutic and psychological procedures are used for therapy - in severe cases also drugs.
fever
Pain all over the body can also come from fever to be accompanied. Joint and muscle pain are then classified as Body aches designated. In combination with a fever, these symptoms can point to a severe cold or classic flu. The patient feels very exhausted and tired. It shows a significant decrease in performance.
In addition to fever, other symptoms such as sniff, to cough and a headache occur. In younger patients, and especially in children, the flu often manifests itself with nausea and vomiting. If, however, there is no flu-like infection behind the pain and fever, the patient should consult a doctor and have himself examined more closely. In some cases, a meningitis (Meningitis) or an organic disease may be responsible for the symptoms.
pregnancy
Pain all over the body can also be related to one pregnancy stand. They can be one of the first signs of an existing pregnancy. In addition to the typical symptoms at the beginning of pregnancy such as nausea and vomiting, some women also have symptoms such as exhaustion, tiredness and body aches. The pain can vary in severity and can be decreased or worsened by movement.
The cause of the body aches can also be the hormonal change that a woman goes through during pregnancy. For many women, the symptoms improve the further the pregnancy progresses. In some cases, general pain can also occur during an advanced pregnancy. If they persist, they should also be examined by the treating gynecologist or another specialist.
A flu-like infection can also be responsible for the pain. A cold may be the underlying cause, especially if the pain is accompanied by a fever. In most cases, restful recovery is recommended. Medicines are only prescribed when really necessary. The background is that one does not want to endanger the unborn child by giving the medication.
Last but not least, infection can also occur Herpes viruses which can be dangerous for the child. The infection can also manifest itself with symptoms similar to those of a cold. Pain in the limbs is not uncommon.
Menopause
After a certain age, a woman goes through hormonal changes again. She goes into menopause, which follows the woman's last menstrual period. During this time, the concentration of the hormones estrogen and FSH (Follicle stimulating hormone). These changes also cause some typical complaints.
The most common symptoms include:
- Hot flashes
- Sweats
- sleep disorders
and also - depressed states.
What many women are not so well aware of is that stronger muscle and limb pain can also occur. They occur occasionally and can last for hours or even days.
In addition, morning stiffness can increase, which initially restricts movement after waking up. Although there is a connection between pain all over the body and menopause, the woman should still have this checked out by a doctor so that another organic disease can definitely be ruled out. Light movement in the form of cycling, Nordic walking, swimming, yoga or hiking can be helpful against pain. So the muscles can be strengthened and relaxed. In addition, exercise also helps improve mood during menopause.
Read more on the subject at: Menopause symptoms
stress
Stress is a burden for the body. In connection with other stress factors such as Overwork can also trigger psychosomatic pain. Such pain does not exist due to physical causes but due to emotional stress. The pain is not imagined by the person concerned, but is also perceived as physical pain. Furthermore, stress leads to tension in the body, which can lead to muscle tension. In addition, stress has a negative effect on existing chronic pain. They can be reinforced. Stress should be avoided if there is pain all over the body. You should pay attention to sufficient recovery phases.
psyche
In medicine there is psychosomatics. Psychosomatic illnesses include illnesses that are caused or influenced by psychological and psychosocial factors. These diseases include somatoform disorders. In these diseases, the symptoms cannot be adequately explained by a physical cause. It is assumed that psychological factors and stress also play an important role in the development. These diseases are often presented as pain in various parts of the body or distributed over the whole body. In addition, dizziness or digestive problems can also exist. It is important to say that those affected do not imagine this pain, but that it really exists. Treating such diseases is not easy. Physiological processes such as behavior therapy play an important role in therapy.
Concomitant symptoms
Since pain is very unspecific throughout the body, very different symptoms can accompany the pain. The pain often results in exhaustion and physical limitations. Depending on the cause of the pain, there may be specific or very general symptoms. In fibromyalgia, sleep and concentration disorders are typical. The numerous rheumatic diseases are also characterized by various accompanying symptoms. For example, in addition to pain, rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by swollen joints and the resulting restricted mobility.
fatigue
Fatigue can occur coupled with pain in the body. Pain is a burden for the body and it feels exhausted more quickly. On the other hand, tiredness and exhaustion can also make the pain worse.
depression
Depression is primarily characterized by a depressed mood and listlessness. In addition, it can be accompanied by many other different symptoms, such as from loss of appetite. In many cases, depression and pain coexist. However, it is often not possible to say exactly whether the pain or the depression came first. Chronically ill people have an increased risk of developing depression.
Can pain all over the body be indicative of cancer?
It is extremely rare for cancer to manifest itself in pain all over the body. Cancer can cause pain, but it often does not exist, especially at the beginning of the disease, and is usually not spread over the entire body. Most cancers do not make themselves felt through pain, but rather through specific symptoms or cause little or no complaints for a very long time. Pain usually only occurs later and especially in the final phase of the disease.
What to do?
Pain all over the body can be an indication of an illness. Especially if it does not go away on its own and keeps returning for several months or is permanently present, a diagnosis should be made by the doctor. There can be various examinations such as Blood count, X-rays, various Screenings of the bones or muscles to find a cause of the pain. Depending on the reason, appropriate treatment can then be carried out.
In the case of a cold or flu, the patient needs a lot of rest, for example. The pain can be medicated with pain relievers like Ibuprofen or Diclofenac be alleviated. For diseases like arthrosis, rheumatism or other rheumatic diseases, pain treatment with injections and cooling ointments can also be carried out. Patients with chronic inflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS) or Fibromyalgia are treated specially. You will be given pain reliever and anti-inflammatory drugs to slow the progression of the disease. Often those affected have to change their lives after a certain point in time, as they are dependent on help, especially with MS.
Rest and rest also help with general pain. Sport should be tailored to the patient's ability to exercise. Here it is advisable to gently strengthen the muscles through physiotherapy, but also to learn to relax. Sports that are gentle on the joints, such as cycling, swimming, hiking or walking, are suitable. If the complaints are also a major psychological burden for the patient, the attending physician can also talk about psychotherapy. Some illnesses are accompanied by depression, so special treatment is required to improve mood and thus also improve the way you deal with an illness.
forecast
Since there are many different causes of pain all over the body, it is not possible to make a general statement about the prognosis. In many cases, treating the pain and the cause can take a long time. Unfortunately, many causes are also of a chronic nature. This means that the diseases last over a long period of time, some diseases even for the rest of your life. The treatment of chronic diseases is unfortunately not easy. Often psychological factors also play a role in chronic pain and aggravate the pain. Psychological factors are usually complex and require changes in thought and action patterns, which are not easy to implement and take some time. In the case of existing pain, systemic pain relievers primarily help. However, pain relievers should not be a long-term solution. However, they can prove to be very helpful in the course of treatment.
