Symptom: Muscle aches

Introduction: Muscle aches

Muscle aches: Aches affecting one or more muscles. See free access online books about Muscle aches below. See detailed information below for a list of 365 causes of Muscle aches, including diseases and drug side effect causes.

» Review Causes of Muscle aches: full list

Causes of Muscle aches:

The following medical conditions are some of the possible causes of Muscle aches. There are likely to be other possible causes, so ask your doctor about your symptoms.

• Excessive exercise (see Exercise symptoms)
• Unaccustomed exertion
• Muscle injury
• Muscle strain
• Infection - many infections cause muscle aches and pains.
  • Virus
  • Bacterial infection
• Fibromyalgia - causing multiple muscle tender points.
• Thyroid disease
• Chronic fatigue syndrome
• Depression
• Arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Muscle metabolism disorders
• Dermatomyositis - cause multiple muscle cramps
• Polymyositis - cramps in many muscles
• Polymyalgia rheumatica
• Diabetes - may cause muscle cramps if undiagnosed or poorly controlled
• Diabetic ketoacidosis - muscle breakdown may cause muscle cramps
• Circulatory disorders
• Intermittent claudication - usually causing calf muscle pain
• Tetanus
• Certain medications
• See also causes of muscle cramps and muscle pain

See full list of 365 causes of Muscle aches

» Review Causes of Muscle aches: full list

Causes of Types of Muscle aches:

Review the causes of these more specific types of Muscle aches:

• Muscle pain (449 causes)
• Muscle cramps (161 causes)
• Vague muscle aches
• Back muscle pain
• Myalgia (109 causes)
• Generalised musculoskeletal pain (12 causes)
• Hand cramps (1 cause)

More types of Muscle aches

Muscle aches: Multiple Symptom Checker

Listed below are some combinations of symptoms associated with Muscle aches, as listed in our database. Visit the Multiple Symptoms Checker, to add and remove symptoms and research your condition.

Multiple Symptom Checker - Other Symptoms

• Muscle aches: Multiple Symptom Checker

Multiple Symptom Checker Combinations

• Muscle aches and Muscle pain (347 causes)
• Muscle aches and Pain (345 causes)
• Muscle aches and Muscle symptoms (343 causes)
• Muscle aches and Nerve symptoms (325 causes)
• Muscle aches and Sensations (325 causes)
• Muscle aches and Aches (304 causes)
• Muscle aches and Muscle weakness (224 causes)
• Muscle aches and Head symptoms (209 causes)
• Muscle aches and Weakness (199 causes)
• Muscle aches and Digestive symptoms (192 causes)
• Muscle aches and Fatigue (185 causes)
• Muscle aches and Fever (169 causes)
• Muscle aches and Temperature symptoms (166 causes)
• Muscle aches and Headache (143 causes)
• Muscle aches and Respiratory symptoms (143 causes)
• Muscle aches and Abdominal symptoms (142 causes)
• Muscle aches and Skin symptoms (141 causes)
• Muscle aches and Behavioral symptoms (134 causes)
• Muscle aches and Movement symptoms (126 causes)
• Muscle aches and Cramps (120 causes)

See full list of 2439 Multiple Symptom Checker combinations related to Muscle aches

Causes of General Symptom Types

Research the causes of these more general types of symptom:

• Aches (326 causes)
• Muscle symptoms (2550 causes)
• Muscle pain (449 causes)
• Pain (2979 causes)
• Sensations (3178 causes)
• Nerve symptoms (3463 causes)
• Common symptoms (4552 causes)

Causes of Similar Symptoms to Muscle aches

Research the causes of these symptoms that are similar to, or related to, the symptom Muscle aches:

• Aches (326 causes)
• Pains (2979 causes)
• Muscle pain (449 causes)
• Muscle symptoms (2550 causes)
• Muscle stiffness (116 causes)

Diagnostic Guides for Muscle aches

Medical Books Excerpts Read excertps from published book sections related to Muscle aches from the following published medical books for more detailed information about Muscle aches. Free access (no registration): read all online diagnostic book sections about Muscle aches

Copyright notice for book excerpts: Copyright © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Misdiagnosis and Muscle aches

Leg cramps at night a classic sign: The symptom of having leg muscle cramps, particularly at night, is a classic sign of undiagnosed diabetes. However, there are also various other causes. See causes of leg cramps or misdiagnosis...read more »

Vitamin B12 deficiency under-diagnosed: The condition of Vitamin B12 deficiency is a possible misdiagnosis of various conditions, such as multiple sclerosis (see symptoms of multiple sclerosis). See symptoms of Vitamin...read more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Muscle aches

Diagnostic tests for Muscle aches:

Various tests are used in the diagnosis of Muscle aches. Some of these are listed below :

• Physical examination
  • Inspect muscles involved for muscle wasting which indicates a primary muscle disease, wasting due to disuse or pathology of the nerve supplying the muscle
  • Peripheral nervous system examination including muscular tone, power, reflexes and coordination
  • Feel the pulses in the legs - if reduced or absent should suggest arterial embolism, peripheral atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) or obstruction of the abdominal aorta and its branches by.
  • Atherosclerosis

See full list of 22 diagnostic tests for Muscle aches

Diagnosis Checklist: Questions your doctor may ask (and why!)

During a consultation, your doctor will use various techniques in their assessment of Muscle aches. Your doctor may ask several questions when assessing your condition. It is important to remember that your consultation is a two-way process and any extra information you can share with your doctor about your symptoms may help them with their diagnosis. Some of the questions your doctor may ask are listed below:

• How long have you had muscle aches? - to determine if acute or chronic.
• Which muscles in the body are aching? - to determine if focal or generalized.
• Are the muscle aches transient or persistent? - If transient, may be due to fever, injury, fatigue, anxiety or after extensive physical work-outs.
• History of injury or trauma? - may suggest muscular strain or sprain.
• Exercise history? - excessive physical work-outs or unaccustomed exercise may commonly cause muscle aches.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Muscle aches (17 listings)

Diagnosis Checklist: Associated symptoms your doctor may ask about (and why!)

Sometimes, other symptoms may be present and may help your doctor analyse your condition. The symptoms your doctor may ask about (in association with Muscle aches) may include:

• Fever? - muscle aches with a fever may suggest Dengue fever, poliomyelitis, Bornholm disease, acute trichinosis, viral influenza or meningitis. Almost any other febrile illness may cause muscle aches.
• Muscle weakness or paralysis? - Focal weakness or paralysis may suggest poliomyelitis. Generalised weakness or paralysis may suggest porphyria, polyneuritis, Guillain-Barre syndrome or dermatomyositis.
• Symptoms of fibromyalgia? - e.g. a history of widespread pain (from neck to lower back), poor sleep pattern, fatigue. May be associated with anxiety, depression, tension headache, irritable bowel syndrome.
• Symptoms of polymyositis and dermatomyositis? - e.g. muscle weakness, especially in thighs and upper arms, muscle aches and pains, joint pain, Raynaud's phenomenon, difficulty with swallowing. Dermatomyositis also features a characteristic violet colored rash over the eyelids, forehead, cheeks, hands, knees and elbows.
• Symptoms of chronic peripheral vascular disease? - e.g. pain in buttock, thigh and calf, especially when walking up hills and stairs; persistent fatigue over the whole lower limb; impotence is possible. If severe, pain may occur at rest especially at night.

See Diagnosis Checklist for Muscle aches (17 listings)

Stories from Users for Muscle aches

Real-life user stories relating to Muscle aches:

• Skin blisters, joint & muscle pain, Photos..
• "Bone pain", muscle pain, fatigued
• flu-like body aches & bone or nerve pain. Someone Please help!
• SO glad I found this-EVERY bone or muscle in my body aches and I am scared
• 18 years old, joint and muscle pain
• severe mood swings, body aches, pains in head, chills, fatigue
• Aching pains in hands, feet, and knees. Genetic. Please help!
• buttocks-down the leg aches when sitting or lying
• Guitarist/Server with painful muscles/nerves
• Muscle/Joint Pain at Night - Please Help
• Muscle Pain moving round body, HELP!
• palpitations, aches, pains
• Muscle pains
• Aching pains
• Generalized Leg aches
• Muscle pain and weakness
• left side muscle pain and shoulder pain with anxiety
• muscle pain and cardiomyopathy
• muscle pain and headaches
• Muscle pain in legs, burning in right thigh

Symptom specific forums: The following patient stories in our interactive forums and message boards relate to Muscle aches or relevant symptoms:

• Cardiovascular (Heart and Blood Circulation) (171)
  • Chest pain and shortness of breath
  • Hand numbness
  • Purple-blue skin color
  • Need help with diagnoses
  • Anxiety and high BP
  • More user stories
• Gastrointestinal (Food - from entry to exit) (452)
  • Bloating/Distention/Intestinal Gas
  • Intense Abdominal Pain
  • Help Please! Extreme Abdominal Pain/Gas/Bowel Symptoms ++
  • Feels like a baby kicking-not pregnant
  • 7 year old with severe heartburn/stomach aches
  • More user stories
• Neurological (Nerves) (357)
  • Could this be MS?
  • Numbness and tingling all over
  • Tingling/numbness in arms/hands/legs/face/head [more symptoms]
  • Eye twitch
  • Essential tremor
  • More user stories

Videos for Muscle aches

Patient Surveys for Muscle aches

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Medications or substances causing Muscle aches:

The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins are some of the possible causes of Muscle aches as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Certain diuretics
• Certain high blood pressure medications
• Certain cholesterol lowering medications (not uncommon)
• Neurotonin
• Nalidixic Acid

See full list of 218 medications causing Muscle aches

Drug interactions causing Muscle aches:

When combined, certain drugs, medications, substances or toxins may react causing Muscle aches as a symptom. Always advise your doctor of any medications or treatments you are using, including prescription, over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative treatments.

• Cholecalciferol and Aluminum Hydroxide interaction
• Phenytoin and Levothyroxine interaction

See full list of 2 drug interactions causing Muscle aches

Organs affected by Muscle aches:

The list of organs typically affected by Muscle aches may include, but is not limited to:

• Muscle

Detailed list of causes of Muscle aches

The list below shows some of the causes of Muscle aches mentioned in various sources:

• Acanthosis nigricans muscle cramps acral enlargement - muscle cramps
• Acid-Base Imbalance - muscle cramps
• Acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment - myalgia
• Adrenal gland hypofunction - muscle pain
• African Sleeping sickness - aching muscles

See full list of 365 causes of Muscle aches

How Common are these Causes of Muscle aches?

This information refers to the general prevalence and incidence of these diseases, not to how likely they are to be the actual cause of Muscle aches. Of the 365 causes of Muscle aches that we have listed, we have the following prevalence/incidence information:

• 13 causes are "very common" diseases
• 10 causes are "common" diseases
• 6 causes are "uncommon" diseases
• 2 causes are "rare" diseases
• 42 causes are "very rare" diseases
• 308 causes have no prevalence information.

See the analysis of the prevalence of 365 causes of Muscle aches

Conditions listing symptoms: Muscle aches:

The following list of conditions have 'Muscle aches' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

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Causes of Muscle aches Based on Risk Factors

This information shows analysis of the list of causes of Muscle aches based on whether certain risk factors apply to the patient: