Musculoskeletal pain

Musculoskeletal pain is a pain in muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. The pain can affect one localized body part or the entire body. Acute injury usually precipitates acute musculoskeletal pain, whereas chronic pain may result from degenerative processes, arthritis, or fibromyalgia. If pain interferes with your daily life, consult a doctor for proper treatment to maintain a good quality of life.

Causes of acute musculoskeletal pain: Examples of acute musculoskeletal pain causes include injuries like:

• Bone bruises (contusions).
• Bone fractures.
• Joint dislocation.
• Muscle bruises.
• Repetitive strain injuries, like tendinitis, carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow.
• Sprains (stretched or torn ligaments).
• Torn muscles or tendons.

Causes of chronic musculoskeletal pain: Certain conditions can cause long-term musculoskeletal pain. Examples include:

• Arthritis, like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.
• Connective tissue diseases, like scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
• Fibromyalgia.
• Gout.
• Joint hypermobility syndrome.
• Myopathies (muscle conditions), like muscular dystrophy and myositis.
• Bone conditions, like osteoporosis and osteopenia.
• Regional pain (like neck and back pain) from conditions like spinal stenosis or degenerative disk disease.
• Stiff person syndrome.

Symptoms of Musculoskeletal pain: The symptoms of musculoskeletal pain vary significantly from person to person. Pain from the same source can change over time, even in the same person.

• usually occur in a specific area, though it can radiate to other areas
• be mild, moderate, or intense
• occur suddenly, as with a broken bone
• last for a long time or change or worsen with time
• get worse in certain positions, when a person is sedentary, or when they are more active

Diagnosis of Musculoskeletal pain: Your doctor might press on or move the affected area into different positions to find the exact location of your pain. A number of tests can help pinpoint the cause of your pain, including:

• blood tests to look for signs of inflammation that might suggest arthritis
• X-rays or CT scans to find problems with the bones
• MRI scans to find problems with soft tissues such as muscles, ligaments, and tendons
• joint fluid testing to look for infections or the crystals that cause gout

Treatments of Musculoskeletal pain: 

Many musculoskeletal conditions can be treated without surgery using physical medicine and rehabilitation techniques. We often advise patients on actions they can take to reduce pain, including lifestyle changes that can help improve the condition and maintain long-term health. Treatment for musculoskeletal pain largely depends on the:

• Affected tissue(s).
• Severity.
• Underlying cause.

For mild musculoskeletal pain from a minor injury (like a strained muscle), conservative treatment often helps. This includes rest, over-the-counter pain medicines and cold (ice) therapy. Some examples of treatments and pain management include:

• Acupuncture.
• Chiropractic adjustment.
• Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) 
• Compression therapy.
• Hydrotherapy.
• Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT).
• Massage therapy.
• Medications, like pain medicine (analgesics) 
• Physical therapy and occupational therapy.
• Splints, casts and other tools that stabilize the affected area.
• Steroid injections.

Musculoskeletal pain exercise: Exercise Right recommends a combination or stretching, strengthening and improving posture through corrective movements and functional activities. There are two phases to understanding musculoskeletal pain, firstly the need to understand the mechanism of the injury (what movement’s cause pain), and secondly how to correct poor movement patterns.

• Graduated training
• Postural correction
• Strengthening exercises 
• Stretching exercises 
• Walking, swimming and cycling 

Our physiotherapy staff in Shyamoli is very skilled in treating Musculoskeletal pain. Before treating you, we must first assess the patient, discuss with them, and create a treatment plan. We offer shockwave therapy, acupuncture therapy, electromagnetic field therapy, intermittent cryotherapy, and more. We can immediately relieve your pain.  

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