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Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Treatment

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Musculoskeletal pain syndrome is a painful condition that causes pain in any part of the body. Read the article to learn more about it.

Written by

Dr. Osheen Kour

Medically reviewed by

Mohammed Wajid

Published At March 31, 2023
Reviewed AtMarch 31, 2023

Introduction:

Musculoskeletal pain syndrome occurs due to various reasons such as trauma, injury, muscle pain, spasm, infection, or autoimmune disorders. The pain appears in ligaments, tendons, bones, joints, skin, and muscles. The duration, intensity, severity, and time of pain can affect a person's daily life. It may be acute or chronic, short-lived, or even lasting up to three to six hours. Musculoskeletal pain can occur at any time and can be constant or intermittent episodes of pain in the body parts. This type of pain may need multiple consultations with doctors of different specializations to treat the pain in other body locations and regions.

What Are the Causes of Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome?

The leading causes of musculoskeletal pain syndrome are:

  • Psychological Stress - It can be the factor leading to complications and triggering pain symptoms.

  • Injuries - These injuries can cause severe joint pain or even occur due to surgical pain.

  • Illness - This factor usually causes pain due to autoimmune disorders and infections.

What Are the Types of Musculoskeletal Pains?

The different types of musculoskeletal pain are

  • Tendon and Ligament Pain - This pain is present as strain, inflammation, or sprain caused in the tendons. Ligament pain occurs due to sudden jerks, movements, or stretching.

  • Joint Pain - Limited motion, stiffness, and swelling caused this pain, resembling arthritis symptoms.

  • Bone Pain- This is usually caused due to fractures and trauma to the bone, thus causing pain.

  • Muscle Pain - Soft tissue pain caused by spasms, injury, infection, or cramps.

  • Chest Pain - Cartilage inflammation, digestive acid reflux, blood clots, and angina can cause pain in the chest area.

  • Back Pain - Strain, posture defect, spasm, or stiffness can cause back pain.

  • Fibromyalgia - This pain is initially localized but can spread throughout the body. It occurs in the shoulder and neck area and spreads to other body parts involving tendons, muscles, joints, and ligaments.

  • Nerve Compression Pain - This pain occurs due to pressure on the body's nerves for any reason, such as leaning on elbows or putting pressure on knees while sitting.

What Are the Symptoms Caused by Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome?

The symptoms caused by musculoskeletal pain syndrome mainly depend upon the location of the pain. The symptoms include:

  • Swelling, stiffness, and aching are the signs of joint pain.

  • Sharp injury-like pain occurs if it is tendon pain. It gets worse if the tendon is stretched or moved from rest.

  • A person can feel muscle contraction, cramps, and twitching if it is muscular pain.

  • Bone pain is usually deep, sharp, dull, or stabbing but can be more painful than tendon or muscle pain.

  • Another type of pain is fibromyalgia which can cause pain or tender spots anywhere in the body.

  • Tingling, needle, or pins-like sensation occurs due to nerve compression pain.

The symptoms also depend upon the cause of the pain. These are as follows:

  • Fatigue.

  • Swelling.

  • Weakness.

  • Bruising.

  • Redness.

  • Stiffness.

  • Popping and cracking sounds in the bone joints.

  • Sleeping difficulty.

  • Muscle cramp or spasm.

  • Soreness.

What Are the Common Musculoskeletal Disorders?

Common musculoskeletal disorders are

  • Joint dislocation and fractures caused by injuries.

  • Osteoporosis (a condition that causes weakness of bones).

  • Scoliosis or structural defects of joints and bones also cause musculoskeletal pain syndrome.

  • Autoimmune disorders and arthritis such as gout, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus, or ankylosing spondylitis are also a reason for pain.

  • Tendinitis (inflammation of the tissue connecting muscles to the bones)

  • Carpal tunnel syndrome (pressure on median nerves causing numbness and tingling in hands and arms).

  • Fibromyalgia (a condition causing tenderness and pain all over the body).

What Are the Significant Areas of the Body Affected by Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome?

  • Neck.

  • Wrist.

  • Shoulder.

  • Back.

  • Legs.

  • Feet.

  • Hips.

  • Knees.

How Is Musculoskeletal Pain Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of musculoskeletal pain syndrome can be made in various ways, such as

  • The doctor physically examines the affected area by moving or pressing it to know the exact location of the pain. The doctor may also ask questions about the type, duration, intensity, and time of the pain or symptoms caused to a person.

  • Doctors may look for other symptoms like muscle atrophy, pain, swelling, redness, and weakness. Also, the patient's complaint may be muscle spasms, joint stiffness, dull ache, or recurrent pain.

  • The doctor advises blood tests for a person suffering from musculoskeletal pain to rule out the symptoms of inflammation that may cause arthritis.

  • MRI or magnetic resonance imaging helps determine tendons, ligaments, and muscle pain.

  • CT (computed tomography) scans and X-rays help find reasons for joint pain.

  • The doctor also recommends joint fluid testing to find out symptoms of infection that can cause gout.

What Is the Treatment for Musculoskeletal Pain Syndrome?

Various treatment options for musculoskeletal pain are:

  • NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), Acetaminophen, corticosteroid injections, and opioids treat pain and inflammatory conditions.

  • The doctor also recommends physical therapies, stretching or strengthening exercises, therapeutic massage, and joint mobilization therapy to treat muscle spasms, joint pain, and spinal alignment issues.

  • Acupressure and acupuncture therapy are given to a person with musculoskeletal pain.

  • Treatment options may include osteopathic or chiropractic manipulation or care.

  • The doctor also uses devices such as braces, orthotics, and lumbar support in the treatment process.

  • Surgical options are also available if the medication and other treatment options do not control the condition. These include arthroscopy, joint replacement, cartilage, and soft tissue repair.

Conclusion:

Musculoskeletal pain syndrome is a severe condition causing pain in the body areas of a person due to multiple reasons and causes. The pain can be mild to moderate and lasts from a few minutes to hours or throughout the day. Musculoskeletal pain can be localized in some cases, while in others, it can radiate to other locations. Primary care doctors can treat a person with mild pain symptoms, but other specialties may also need intervention in chronic cases. Musculoskeletal pain is a severe, discomforting condition that can hamper a person's day-to-day life. Therefore, a person should seek immediate medical help in case any such symptoms are observed. Also, the doctor should advise a person to follow proper preventive measures to avoid musculoskeletal pain aggravation due to lifestyle and posture disabilities.

Mohammed Wajid
Mohammed Wajid

Physiotherapy

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