Myalgia is a condition where one can feel muscle pain for various reasons. Certain diseases, infections, and injuries can lead to muscle pain and can happen to people of all ages. Sometimes, the pain is limited to certain body parts, and at times, the entire muscular framework is affected. In most cases, the pain may subside without any major therapy. Here is a list of some health conditions that can cause muscle cramps and pain.

MS or Multiple Sclerosis
Most patients who have multiple sclerosis complain of pain in their muscles. MS is caused by damaged nerve fibers that impact the body’s balance system and weaken the muscle system. It is an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system starts attacking the healthy cells, which damages myelin, a protective covering around the nerves. When the myelin stops its normal functioning in multiple sclerosis, brain signals carried by nerves get disrupted. Since the nerves in the muscles are damaged, MS is accompanied by paroxysmal pain that comes and goes like spasms or cramps.

Lupus
Lupus is another medical condition when the body’s immune system starts targeting the body’s healthy cells, causing inflammation. Such diseases are called autoimmune diseases. In the case of lupus, the body’s healthy cells start to break down. Lupus affects organ systems like the heart, lungs, kidneys, nervous system, joints, and skin. The most common type of lupus is systematic lupus erythematosus or SLE, which fluctuates between remission and flares. Muscle pain is pretty common for people who have lupus. The pain is felt in upper limb areas like the upper arm and thighs. Sometimes, myositis can develop in severe cases, leading to muscle inflammation. This condition affects the thighs, hips, shoulders, and upper arms.

Myofascial pain syndrome (MPS)
This condition revolves around the musculoskeletal system of the body. It is a type of chronic muscle pain that exists for some time, resolving on its own after a period. In some cases, the pain persists.

The pain usually appears in localized areas like the lower back, jaw region, neck, etc. When that muscle is strained, the patients feel pain knots in the affected areas. With a medical patch, one can bring the pain under control. Patients of MPS suffer from stiffness and reduced movement of muscles.

Thyroid

There are two types of thyroid-related issues – Hyperthyroidism or Graves’ disease and hypothyroidism. In the case of the former, the thyroid gland overproduces hormones. The thyroid gland is responsible for regulating the body’s metabolism activities as it releases hormones like thyroxine and triiodothyronine. Due to excess hormone production, the muscles start to weaken. In the latter case, the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones, and as a result, many organs slow down functioning. Muscle cramps are common and are caused by the fibers aliterate between Type 2 and Type 1 fiber types.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

It is another condition that affects the muscles of the body. It is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the lining of joints. It is also an autoimmune disorder where the immune system starts fighting the body’s healthy cells. In most cases, this condition affects the bones in the toes and fingers. Slowly, the condition affects the other parts like ankles, wrists, knees, hips, elbows, etc. Patients often complain of muscle weakness due to their medical condition, with almost 25% to 75% muscular strength reduction. The weakness causes pain and cramps.

Muscle pains are quite common, and they usually do not persist. These can happen due to injuries, overexertion, exercising, etc. However, in some instances, the pain is due to underlying medical conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, thyroid, and Myofascial pain syndrome. It is advised to seek therapy at the earliest to prevent the condition from escalating.