How do I differentiate if my chronic muscle pain (myalgia) is benign or of more serious conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, infections, lupus or dermatomyositis?

Doctor's Answers 1

Photo of Dr Jipson Quah
Dr Jipson Quah

General Practitioner

Myalgia or muscle pain is a common complaint. Unusually excessive exertion, trauma, and viral infections are among the most common causes. While many causes are benign and self-limiting, myalgia can also be associated with significant morbidity. A thorough review by the doctor of the patient's history and complete physical examination will narrow the list of potential causes of myalgia to a manageable one. For persistent or severe myalgia, selected investigations may be necessary to identify the diagnosis and direct treatment. There is a difference between myalgia and myopathy (muscle disease) and myositits (muscle inflammation). Although myopathy and myositis may cause myalgia, most people with myalgia may have neither.

Dermatomyositis is an uncommon inflammatory disease. Here are some symptoms:

  • progressive muscle weakness
  • a distinctive skin rash
  • weight loss
  • fever

Lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease which affects many different body systems.

It commonly causes:

  • joint pain
  • swelling
  • photosensitivity
  • skin rash
  • swollen lymph nodes

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a long-term illness and the commonest symptom is extreme tiredness. There can be other symptoms such as insomnia, headache, myalgia, joint pain.

If you are concerned, I would advise you to consult your doctor to diagnose the condition, perform the relevant investigations and manage it accordingly.

Similar Questions

Why does muscle pain from gym exercise affect my sleep and movement for days?

Muscle pain is caused by triggering specialized nerve endings, also known as nociceptors. Exercise gives rise to muscle tissue damage and lowered tissue pH. Muscle pain is produced by the activation of these specialized nerve receptors, which detect stimuli that are capable of damaging tissue and these stimuli are perceived as painful. The nociceptors can be sensitized and activated by mechanical stimuli, such as trauma, exercise or mechanical overloading. Two activating chemical substances are crucial for the generation of muscle pain: adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and protons (H+ ions).

Photo of Dr Jipson Quah

Answered By

Dr Jipson Quah

General Practitioner

TCM

How will acupuncture help with stroke symptoms?

From a biomedical perspective, a stroke occurs when blood supply to the brain is interrupted, causing brain cells to lose their function thus leading to the signs and symptoms commonly observed. There are two main types of stroke: Ischaemic stroke occurs due to blockage of blood vessel, limiting blood flow to the brain. It is the most common, accounting for 74% of stroke in Singapore. Haemorrhagic stroke occurs due to rupture of blood vessel, causing bleeding into the brain. This makes up 24% of stroke in Singapore.

Photo of Human

Answered By

Human

Ask any health question for free

I’m not so sure about a procedure...

Ask Icon Ask a Question

Join Human

Sign up now for a free Human account to get answers from specialists in Singapore.

Sign Up

Get The Pill

Be healthier with our Bite-sized health news straight in your inbox