Body aches and pains with fever

Probably, every person is familiar with the painful feeling of general weakness and exhaustion during colds. This condition is called "body aches" - this is a feeling of discomfort with which it is impossible to work or rest.

Why does this condition occur and how to deal with it?

[ 1 ], [ 2 ]

Causes body aches

Body aches often accompany various infectious diseases, but sometimes they appear without any apparent reason. However, such reasons exist, and we may not even know about them:

• physical overload, sudden unusual loads;
• an impending cold;
• liver disease;
• inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract;
• consumption of stale or poor quality food (food poisoning);
• insect bites (especially ticks);
• blood diseases;
• internal tumor processes;
• joint inflammation;
• taking certain medications, as well as poisoning by them;
• stressful situations, psycho-emotional tension;
• helminthic infestations;
• endocrine system disorders;
• autoimmune processes;
• excessive thinness or obesity.

Often, patients do not take the listed reasons seriously or are unaware of the existing disease.

Also, the appearance of body aches can be explained by other factors.

• Body aches during a cold usually occur against the background of weakness, restless sleep, and fever. This condition is explained by the intoxication of the body with the waste products of bacteria that actively multiply during the disease. In viral diseases, when the patient's temperature rises, body aches appear simultaneously with intoxication pain in the muscles and bones.
• Body aches during flu are the result of the activity of influenza viruses, which, penetrating the bloodstream and lymph flow, are carried to all tissues of the body. This leads to disruption of metabolic processes, tissue hypoxia and muscle pain, which manifests itself as aches.
• Body aches during ARVI – viral infectious diseases – can also be caused by a malfunction of pain receptors, which, under the influence of high temperature, lose sensitivity and begin to work “incorrectly”. The central nervous system receives signals about such disorders, which is physically manifested in the form of a nagging sensation of body aches.
• Aching in the body before menstruation may occur in women whose uterus is slightly tilted backwards. Menstrual contractions of the uterus lead to pressure on the nerve endings, which causes pressing pain in the area of the external genitalia and aching in the lumbosacral area.

Pathogenesis

Body aches affect the skeletal muscles, bone system and joints, so this sensation is quite specific.

Physiologically, the process of aches looks like this: the brain receives a notification about a malfunction of pain receptors, which comes along the nerve pathways of special structures of the peripheral and central nervous system. A contradiction arises between the classic pain syndrome and the distorted reaction of pain receptors, which is manifested by a peculiar sensation called "aches". Therefore, aches in the body are one of the types of pain that are incorrectly perceived by the structures of the brain.

The epidemiology of this condition has not been studied, since aches and pains are not a disease, but a specific symptom of other pathologies.

[ 3 ], [ 4 ], [ 5 ], [ 6 ], [ 7 ], [ 8 ], [ 9 ]

Symptoms body aches

Body aches are felt as an uncomfortable, irritating and unpleasant condition that occurs periodically over a period of time. During an attack of body aches, a person feels as if his body is breaking, twisting, stretching. Moreover, all these feelings occur simultaneously.

The aches and pains can “migrate” throughout the body, as if rolling onto one area of the body, then onto another.

The first signs of body aches may be felt before the disease, or after symptoms have already increased, for example, when the temperature rises. At the same time, not only muscles but also joints "ache".

• Body aches and weakness often arise from banal overwork, physical or mental. In addition to aches and weakness, a person may complain of numbness in the limbs, general fatigue, and decreased performance.

Also, such symptoms can be a sign of a sharp decrease in immunity, which is usually combined with sleep disorders and joint pain.

• Headaches and body aches occur with minor poisoning or with sluggish inflammation, when the intoxication is weakly expressed. It can also be a consequence of a sudden jump in blood pressure, an attack of vegetative-vascular dystonia or the result of a sleepless night.

• Temperature, weakness and body aches are usually observed against the background of colds, viruses and other infectious diseases. The same symptoms are characteristic of the initial period of herpes (before the appearance of rashes) and toxoplasmosis.

• Body aches and chills always indicate the presence of intoxication and accompany any inflammatory reaction, including inflammatory diseases of the urinary system, digestive system, etc. In addition, chills can appear with poisoning by chemicals, food products, drugs, etc.

• Cough and body aches may appear when the respiratory system is affected. Cough with intoxication often accompanies inflammatory processes in the nasopharynx, trachea or bronchi, as well as severe cardiac pathologies. But most often, such symptoms occur with pneumonia - inflammation of the lungs.

• Body aches and sore throat most often indicate the initial stage of a cold or viral disease - ARVI or influenza infection. Usually, this condition is accompanied by other symptoms: headache, loss of appetite, chills, lethargy and drowsiness.

• Nausea and body aches may be observed in the following cases:
  • in case of influenza infection;
  • with meningoencephalitis;
  • for herpes infection;
  • for fungal infections of the respiratory organs;
  • in the initial stage of development of infectious intoxication;
  • for enterovirus myositis;
  • in cases of acute poisoning.

• Body aches without signs of a cold can be one of the variants of the course of osteochondrosis, spondyloarthrosis, tumor processes. Abscesses (abscesses), osteoporosis, tuberculosis make themselves known in the same way. Often, body aches can be the only initial sign of sexually transmitted infections: chlamydia, gonorrhea, ureaplasmosis, etc.

• Diarrhea and body aches are a clear sign of a bacterial intestinal disease. If the condition is accompanied by a fever, then we may be talking about a severe infectious lesion (for example, salmonellosis, dysentery). In a child, similar symptoms may also occur with viral infections, including influenza and acute respiratory viral infections.

• Body aches in the morning may be due to muscle or joint damage. But most often the causes are simpler:
  • excessive physical activity the day before;
  • low fluid intake, dehydration;
  • fasting, too strict a diet;
  • deficiency of certain vitamins and microelements in the body (for example, B vitamins, magnesium).

Body aches during pregnancy

Pregnant women may experience body aches due to the same factors as other people. However, there are also specific causes that are characteristic only of pregnancy. For example, discomfort in the limbs may be caused by varicose veins or poor circulation due to increased pressure on the vessels by the enlarging uterus.

In addition, scientists explain periodic body aches during pregnancy by hormonal changes in the body. Thus, to prepare the birth canal for childbirth, the placenta and ovaries secrete a large amount of the hormone relaxin, which improves the elasticity of the ligamentous apparatus. The stretchability of the ligaments and the divergence of the pelvic bones cause a feeling of aches in the third trimester of pregnancy.

[ 10 ]

Body aches after childbirth

Body aches after childbirth can be caused by various reasons, both physiological and pathological.

Physiological (natural) causes of aches after childbirth are the altered hormonal background, which prepares the body for labor, facilitating the passage of the baby through the birth canal. After childbirth, the joints and ligaments return to their "pre-pregnancy" state, which is what causes the feeling that the body "aches".

In addition, during childbirth, the woman's body endures a huge load. Muscles tense up, ligaments and joints stretch. Therefore, postpartum body aches are a gradual restoration of the musculoskeletal system, bringing it back to normal.

Pathological causes of unpleasant sensations in the body can be diseases of the joints, spine, and muscular system. If the condition does not normalize during the first months after childbirth, it is recommended to consult a doctor for a complete examination of the body.

[ 11 ]

Complications and consequences

The body ache itself does not threaten a person with any adverse consequences. Let us remember that this condition is not a disease, but only one of the symptoms of other diseases or conditions.

Only diseases that are accompanied by aches and pains can lead to complications. For example, flu or acute respiratory viral infection can be complicated by pneumonia, and acute poisoning can develop into infectious toxic shock.

The sensation itself, when the body aches and muscles twist, goes away after the underlying disease is cured.

Physiological body aches also go away on their own as the body's muscular and musculoskeletal systems recover.

[ 12 ], [ 13 ], [ 14 ], [ 15 ], [ 16 ]

Diagnostics body aches

There is no specific diagnosis for body aches. However, a doctor may order tests to establish the underlying diagnosis, a symptom of which is the sensation of aches.

To determine the cause of the pain, tests may be prescribed:

• general and biochemical blood analysis;
• urine analysis;
• blood test for hormone levels;
• determination of rheumatoid factor (analysis for antibodies to immunoglobulin M).

Instrumental diagnostics may include:

• X-ray examination;
• computed tomography and resonance tomography;
• arthroscopy;
• electromyography.

[ 17 ], [ 18 ], [ 19 ], [ 20 ]

Differential diagnosis

Differential diagnostics of the symptom can be carried out with infectious and viral diseases, with autoimmune processes in the body, with gout, with rheumatism, with osteoarthritis, tuberculosis, etc.

The main problem with diagnosing body aches is the ambiguity of this symptom, which is not specific to any disease. Therefore, a comprehensive examination of the patient may be required to establish an accurate diagnosis. The diagnostic results are subsequently associated with the clinical manifestations of the disease.

Treatment body aches

Treatment for body aches depends on the causative factor that caused the discomfort. Usually, such treatment is complex, aimed at eliminating the cause and accelerating recovery. In some cases, when the cause of the disease cannot be determined, a combined treatment regimen is prescribed using various drugs. Such therapy is always long and complex.

Your doctor may prescribe the following medications for body aches:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs:
  • Paracetamol - take 0.5 g three times a day, with enough liquid. Taking paracetamol can sometimes cause abdominal pain and nausea;
  • Ibuprofen - take 400-800 mg three times a day. Side effects may include dyspeptic disorders, allergies, headaches.
• Antibacterial and antiviral drugs:
  • Biseptol - prescribed in the amount of 4 tablets per day, in two doses. The duration of therapy is determined by the doctor. Possible side effects: allergy, kidney pain (nephropathy);
  • Arbidol - taken orally before meals, 2 tablets 4 times a day. Duration of therapy - 3 days. The drug may cause an allergic reaction.
• Painkillers that relieve pain:
  • Pentalgin - prescribed 1 tablet up to 3 times a day for 3 days. Pentalgin can cause digestive disorders, especially with prolonged use.
• Muscle relaxants:
  • Mydocalm is usually prescribed according to an individual scheme, where the daily dose should not exceed 150-450 mg of the drug. Side effects may occur: muscle weakness, headaches, allergic rashes. After reducing the dose, the side effects disappear.
• Anti-cold remedies:
  • Coldrex is a phenylephrine-based drug that is prescribed 2 tablets up to 4 times a day. Coldrex is usually well tolerated, but sometimes nausea, bowel disorders, and increased heart rate may occur;
  • Gripgo is a drug that eliminates cold symptoms, including body aches. Gripgo is taken 1 tablet up to 4 times a day for 3-4 days. Sometimes during treatment, abdominal pain, dizziness, thirst, and bowel upset may be observed.

Vitamins

For physiological body aches, vitamin preparations are considered the most effective medicine, because physiological sensations are natural, so it would be wrong to use medicines to eliminate them.

Additional intake of multivitamins will improve tissue nutrition (including muscle), speed up metabolic processes and strengthen the immune system. Taking vitamin complexes is especially important in the prenatal and postnatal periods, as well as during recovery from protracted infectious and viral diseases. Breastfeeding and pregnant women should consult a doctor before taking any medications, including vitamins.

• Neuromultivit is a vitamin product based on pyridoxine, thiamine, and cyanocobalamin. Neuromultivit is prescribed for neurological diseases, as well as to improve the functioning of the nervous and musculoskeletal systems, 1 tablet up to 3 times a day, after meals.
• Magnikum is a drug that eliminates magnesium and pyridoxine deficiency in the body, which often causes cramps and aches in the limbs and body. Magnikum is usually used for a long time, at least one month, 1-2 tablets three times a day.
• Neurovitan is a complex preparation with B vitamins. It can be used for body aches caused by physical and nervous overload, anemia, poor nutrition, alcohol abuse, neuralgia. It is allowed to be taken during pregnancy, under the supervision of a doctor. Neurovitan is taken from 1 to 4 tablets per day, at the discretion of the attending physician.

Folk remedies

To eliminate body aches, you can use various folk medicine recipes. Such methods are safe to use in the following cases:

• when the cause of the pain is precisely known;
• not during periods of exacerbation of the disease;
• for preventive purposes.

1. Eucalyptus alcohol tincture is used for external body rubbing.
2. Take baths with the addition of a decoction of burdock rhizome.
3. Apply freshly picked horseradish leaves to the limbs and lower back (can be done at night).
4. Place one mustard plaster on the calf muscles in the evening before going to bed.
5. Drink a glass of warm milk with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of honey, up to 3 times a day (the last time must be before going to bed).

Specific herbal treatment involves the use of herbal infusions that help eliminate inflammation and strengthen the body's own defenses. Many different herbs and dry herbal mixtures are used for this purpose. We will offer you the most popular recipes for getting rid of body aches:

• Take 50 g of dried wild pansies, 50 g of dried birch leaves and 50 g of dried nettle leaves, brew with 1 liter of boiling water. Take the infusion before meals, 100 ml, 4 times a day.
• An infusion is prepared from 20 g of elder flowers, 100 g of willow bark, 80 g of dry birch leaves using 1 liter of boiling water. The medicine is taken half an hour before meals, three times a day, half a glass at a time.
• Pour one part vodka into two parts chestnut flowers. Infuse for two weeks in the dark, or in a cupboard. Strain and take up to 3 times a day between main meals, 5 drops in a small amount of water.

[ 21 ], [ 22 ], [ 23 ], [ 24 ]

Homeopathy

Homeopaths cure many diseases. Homeopathic medicines are also taken for diseases that are accompanied by body aches, such as colds or flu, as such remedies effectively reduce high temperatures and eliminate the main signs of inflammation.

Homeopathic remedies that can relieve body aches:

• Aflubin is a therapeutic and prophylactic homeopathic remedy that strengthens the immune system and can resist colds and viral diseases. As a rule, take 1 tablet or 10 drops three times a day for a week.
• Aconite is a homeopathic remedy that eliminates unpleasant symptoms of acute respiratory viral infections, acute respiratory infections, respiratory diseases, etc. The drug has antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. Aconite is taken sublingually, 7 granules 2-5 times a day. The total duration of treatment is 28 days. At the beginning of treatment, symptoms may increase, which is not considered a reason to discontinue the drug.
• Influcid is a homeopathic tablet that is usually prescribed for the treatment and prevention of diseases accompanied by fever and body aches. The drug can be taken in the acute period, 1 tablet every hour (but not more than 12 times a day) until the condition is relieved, then 1 tablet three times a day until complete healing. The tablets are dissolved in the mouth.

In rare cases, allergic reactions to the drug are possible.

• Cinnabsin is an anti-infective homeopathic remedy that eliminates swelling, inflammation, and strengthens the immune system. Cinnabsin is often prescribed to treat diseases of the upper respiratory tract and sinuses.

Adult patients typically take 1 tablet up to 8 times a day to relieve acute symptoms, and then 1 tablet three times a day.

Some increase in salivation may be observed during treatment.

In addition to the listed drugs, for body aches you can use homeopathic remedies such as Gelsemium, Bryonia, Euphrasia, Dulcamara, etc.

Prevention

Prevention of body aches is, first of all, prevention of any diseases that can cause such a symptom.

In order to support immune defense and reduce a person’s susceptibility to infectious and inflammatory diseases, it is necessary to listen to the following preventive recommendations:

• practice hardening using water and air procedures;
• do physical exercise, morning exercises;
• regularly carry out wet cleaning and ventilate the room in which a person spends most of the time;
• observe sanitary and hygienic rules, wash your hands, use personal means for washing and drying your body;
• eliminate or minimize contact with people sick with contagious forms of diseases (viral and infectious);
• consume only high-quality and fresh food products;
• eat well, choosing foods rich in vitamins and microelements;
• drink enough clean drinking water every day;
• lead a healthy and active lifestyle, without bad habits.

Since the modern environment contains an incredible number of various pathogenic microorganisms that can provoke the development of infectious and inflammatory diseases in humans, it is very important to remember about preventive measures to prevent the spread of infections.

[ 25 ], [ 26 ]

Forecast

The prognosis for a feeling of being broken and aching in the body is usually favorable: the discomfort goes away as you recover and get rid of the underlying disease.

As we have seen, body aches are an uncharacteristic symptom that can occur with many diseases and conditions. However, there is one peculiarity in the development of this sensation: in the vast majority of cases, body aches are a manifestation of varying degrees of intoxication or accumulation of toxic components in the body tissues.

[ 27 ]