What causes muscle soreness in a 22-year-old?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 22-year-old male, roughly 154.3 pounds and 5'10". I am a smoker who has switched from cigarettes to vapes, and I currently consume one 12,000-puff vape per week. So I was at the skatepark close to my home for about an hour, just supervising a family friend. I left to get water about 40 minutes in and started to feel what I thought was lactic acid, but the soreness was instant as I stood to leave. This pain has persisted and worsened, and I now have the same pain all over my body (muscles surrounding my limbs, chest, back, shoulders, neck, and lower abdomen). Otherwise, I am not properly fed as I am not able to afford two weeks of food at a time, but still relatively fit as I have no trouble breathing or doing prolonged exercise. I only have a slight phlegmy cough a few times a day. What can I do to manage this?

Kindly advise.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

It sounds like your body is reacting to a combination of factors, and I want to reassure you that while this level of widespread muscle pain can feel alarming, it is often due to systemic muscle fatigue, nutritional deficiencies, and possibly mild dehydration or electrolyte imbalance, especially given your limited food intake and exposure to physical stress at the skatepark, even if you were not actively skating.

The sudden onset of muscle soreness all over, especially if it worsens the next day, could suggest delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). In your case, it may be amplified by inadequate protein, calorie, and micronutrient intake, particularly magnesium, potassium, or vitamin B, which are essential for muscle repair and nerve function.

The fact that you are relatively active but undernourished puts your muscles under greater strain with limited resources to recover. Your use of high-nicotine vapes could also contribute to systemic inflammation, poor circulation, and muscle fatigue, even if your breathing feels okay.

For now, increase your fluid intake with oral rehydration solutions (ORS) if possible, and include affordable sources of potassium like bananas or coconut water. Try to get protein from low-cost sources such as eggs, lentils, or peanut butter. Gentle stretching, rest, and warm baths with magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt) can help reduce soreness.

If you develop fever, weakness, dark urine, or ongoing fatigue, get checked for rhabdomyolysis or viral myositis. But if the pain gradually improves over the next few days, it is most likely nutritional and exertional in nature. Longer term, it is strongly recommended to address nutritional gaps as best as possible, reduce vape use, and seek support services if food insecurity is affecting your health. Early action can prevent more serious problems later on.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.