Why are my arms and legs sore

What Causes Leg and Arm Pain

With the volume of information on the internet, it’s more common than ever to self diagnose our health problems. However, sometimes it can be difficult to diagnose something that seems like it should be simple.

It’s common for leg and arm pain to begin with an injury caused by an accident. For example, a car accident or a rough athletic experience. In these cases, it may be easy to guess what is causing your pain.

Often, the problem is less easy to figure out. Perhaps you have been sleeping in odd positions. With so many people at their computers all day, poor posture is often the cause of health problems.

Repetitive motions that seem like a small thing can cause stress on the body that leads to injuries causing leg and arm pain. In these cases, the problem has developed slowly over time and becomes more difficult for the patient to notice and self diagnose.

Fortunately, chiropractors are experienced. They know the right questions to ask and combined with a thorough examination, can work to find the source of your pain.

While the pain in your arms and legs may be caused by a chronic condition like arthritis, tendinitis, or bursitis, subluxations (misalignments of the spine) are a common problem for neck and lower back problems that can lead to leg and arm pain.

Your spinal column is a vertical structure traveling from your hips up through your neck. There are thirty-three bones inside the spinal column, known as vertebrae, which combined with discs, keep your spine safe. In this same region, there are nerve bundles that travel throughout your body.

Sometimes, the vertebrae or the discs will come out of alignment. When this misalignment happens, nerves can become irritated, causing pain at the source of the problem or referring it to wherever the nerves travel to. Nerves in your body travel from your spine to the ends of your fingers and toes, so the pain can happen anywhere.

Sciatica is a common example of how misalignments in the spine can cause pain elsewhere in the body. In this condition, the sciatic nerve has become irritated by a misalignment in the lower back. The sciatic nerve is the longest nerve in the body. It ranges from the lower back, down the backs of both legs, and into the feet. It is common for sciatica patients to feel pain, numbness, or pins and needles feeling anywhere along the sciatic nerve.

A Solution for Arm and Leg Pain

Chiropractors work to keep a body in alignment. They are experts in recognizing the source of a problem and building short and long term solutions. This means meeting with a patient, performing an examination, and then creating a treatment plan that involves adjusting the bones in the body so they are back in alignment.

This will lead to short term relief, as the misalignment is immediately corrected, and long term relief as you build a treatment plan with your chiropractor to prevent future problems.

When the pain goes untreated for a long period of time, it can often lead to further damage and worsening symptoms. Contacting a professional for help as soon as possible is an important part of the healing process.

The feeling of sore muscles after a good workout can tell you that you worked hard and are moving towards achieving your fitness goals, whatever they may be. Or if you go on a beautiful hike and your legs are sore the next day, it’s almost a pleasant feeling. You can stretch and rest a bit without giving it much thought. But what about when your muscles are sore, but you haven’t been working out? What could it be?

Although less common than muscle pain from exercise or exertion, your muscles can be sore for a number of other reasons. Muscle pain is called myalgia, and it can be a symptom of a serious infection or a chronic condition.

The flu

Influenza is a virus everyone was talking about this year. The H3N2 strain of flu that dominated this year was more widespread than other years, and made a lot of people very sick. One of the first symptoms people feel with the flu is muscle aches. Some people describe it as feeling as though they just ran a marathon. If your muscles are sore and achy and you’ve been around either a person with the flu or a crowded place, you may have the flu. Watch out for fever and cold symptoms. If you do have the flu, get lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids. Ask your doctor about taking an anti-viral medication if you have only had symptoms for a day or so. 

Lyme disease

Body-aches, chills, and fever may not always be the flu. If you have these symptoms within about a month of being bitten by a tick, you could be infected with Lyme disease. A telltale rash with a bullseye pattern may appear around the spot where you were bitten. If you see the rash, get to the doctor right away. Lyme disease is treatable with antibiotics but it is not always easy to diagnose. If you do not receive treatment in the early stages of the disease, you could develop severe symptoms like joint pain similar to rheumatoid arthritis, meningitis, muscle weakness, or other serious complications.

Fibromyalgia

A chronic condition that is linked with chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia is pain in the muscles, joints, and/or other soft tissue in the body. Not everyone notices sore muscles right away, but you may be aware of a feeling of sustained tiredness and general lack of energy. Fibromyalgia can also cause depression, anxiety, and make it hard to sleep. Although there is no cure, people with fibromyalgia may decrease the severity of symptoms with exercises and medications prescribed by doctors.

Mononucleosis or “mono”

A contagious infection that used to be attributed only to kissing, mononucleosis can pack a punch. The symptoms may resemble the flu at first, including muscle aches and fever. But mono can also cause a rash and sore throat. If you think you may have mono, be sure to get a definitive diagnosis from your doctor and stay home for as long as symptoms last to avoid passing it to others.

These conditions are just a few that can cause sore muscles. As always, be sure to listen to your body and see your doctor if you are showing signs of an infection or other condition. The caring providers at SC Internal Medicine Associates & Rehabilitation in South Carolina can help. Call (803) 749-1111 for an appointment at our office in Irmo, South Carolina today.

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