What causes severe muscle pain in both legs and arms?

Blood Flow Problem
If you have pain in your arms, legs, or both, your muscles may not be getting enough blood -- a problem called claudication. At first, you may notice it only when you exercise, but in time, you might feel it when you sit or walk.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on webmd.com


What can cause muscle aches in arms and legs?

The most common causes of muscle aches include:
  • Stress. Share on Pinterest Stress can cause muscle aches, as well as headaches and shaking. ...
  • Nutritional deficit. ...
  • Dehydration. ...
  • Sprains and strains. ...
  • Sleep deficiencies. ...
  • Too much physical activity. ...
  • Infections, diseases, and hereditary conditions.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicalnewstoday.com


When should I be worried about muscle pain?

Get immediate medical care if you have muscle pain with:

Trouble breathing or dizziness. Extreme muscle weakness. A high fever and stiff neck.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org


What causes multiple muscle pain?

The most common causes of muscle pain are stress, overuse, injuries, and tension. Muscle pain – specifically systemic muscle pain – can be caused by an illness, infection, or a side effect of certain medications. Common causes of myalgia includes: Chronic fatigue syndrome.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on southernpainclinic.com


What diseases cause all over muscle pain?

Common causes of muscle pain include:
  • Chronic exertional compartment syndrome.
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome.
  • Claudication.
  • Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)
  • Dermatomyositis.
  • Dystonia.
  • Fibromyalgia.
  • Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org


Dr. Ellwitz - What's Causing My Arm Pain?



What does fibromyalgia pain feel like?

Your muscles may feel like they have been overworked or pulled even though you haven't exercised. Sometimes, your muscles will twitch. Other times they will burn or ache with deep stabbing pain. Some patients with fibromyalgia have pain and achiness around the joints in their neck, shoulders, back, and hips.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on webmd.com


What autoimmune diseases cause joint and muscle pain?

Several autoimmune diseases can cause joint pain and other symptoms that mimic rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These diseases most commonly include lupus, systemic scleroderma, and polymyalgia rheumatic.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on arthritis-health.com


How do you treat severe muscle pain?

Rest and elevate the painful area. Alternate between ice packs to reduce inflammation and heat to improve blood flow. Soak in a warm bath with Epsom salts or take a warm shower. Take over-the-counter pain relievers (aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen, naproxen).
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on my.clevelandclinic.org


What does myositis pain feel like?

The symptoms of myositis vary between different people. They can include: weak and tired muscles that can make everyday tasks such as climbing stairs, brushing hair, and getting in and out of cars difficult. pain in muscles.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on versusarthritis.org


What is the difference between fibromyalgia and myalgia?

The causes of the two conditions are different: Polymyalgia is considered to be an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune disorders cause the body to attack healthy tissue by mistake. Fibromyalgia pain is thought to be caused by overactive nerves that make the body perceive pain despite there being no physical injury.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicalnewstoday.com


How can you tell the difference between muscle pain and something serious?

Muscle soreness should not last longer than five days. Seek medical attention if the pain doesn't subside after a week, the injured area feels numb, or you are unable to walk or move your arms or legs. These symptoms could indicate a bigger issue, such as damage to your joints or muscles.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on utphysicians.com


How can you tell the difference between muscle and nerve pain?

Different Types of Pain

The pain is typically localized in the muscle itself, and it usually hurts when you use the muscle. You feel fatigued and may have trouble sleeping. Nerve pain is described as crushing, burning, tingling or numbness. It is sharp and you may feel pain on the skin above the nerves as well.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on flexispot.com


Can muscle pain be serious?

Muscle pain from minor injuries, stress or exercise is usually helped with simple home treatment. Muscle pain from severe injuries or systemic disease is often serious and requires medical care.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on mayoclinic.org


What diseases cause muscle pain and weakness?

Potential causes of muscle weakness
  • neuromuscular disorders, such as muscular dystrophies, multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
  • autoimmune diseases, such as Graves' disease, myasthenia gravis, and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
  • thyroid conditions, such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on healthline.com


What are the signs and symptoms of myalgia?

Myalgia Symptoms
  • Deep muscle pain in the local area or widespread pain.
  • Dull or sharp aching pain.
  • Mild or severe pain that may last minutes or be constant.
  • Pain with rest or movement.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on verywellhealth.com


Does Covid affect your muscles?

When unwell with COVID people are less active than usual. This can cause aches and pains, stiffness and muscle weakness. Muscle weakness can lead to difficulties with activities such as standing, climbing stairs, gripping objects with your hands or lifting your arms above your head.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on yourcovidrecovery.nhs.uk


Is there a virus that attacks your muscles?

Viruses or bacteria may invade muscle tissue directly, or release substances that damage muscle fibers. Common cold and flu viruses, as well as HIV, are just a few of the viruses that can cause myositis.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on webmd.com


Is Fibromyalgia a myositis?

One way myositis differs from fibromyalgia: “I teach physicians that myositis, in most cases, is muscle weakness much more than muscle pain. Typically, in fibromyalgia, there is no objective muscle strength problems — the muscles are painful and tender, but they're not weak upon examination,” says Dr.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on creakyjoints.org


What autoimmune disease causes leg pain?

Autoimmune myositis causes inflammation and weakness in the muscles (polymyositis) or in the skin and muscles (dermatomyositis). Muscle damage may cause muscle pain and muscle weakness may cause difficulty lifting the arms above the shoulders, climbing stairs, or arising from a sitting position.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on merckmanuals.com


What painkiller is best for muscle pain?

Ibuprofen (trade names are Advil, Motrin, Midol) "targets inflammation, so it is particularly helpful for muscle pain, joint pain and sports injuries.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on dukehealth.org


What kind of doctor do I see for muscle pain?

If you have muscle pain as the result of an injury or condition, or even if you have no idea how it started, schedule an appointment with an orthopedic physician at the Center for Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on centerfororthosurgery.com


What drug is best for muscle pain?

Muscle ache or pulled/strained muscle.

Ibuprofen typically works better for this kind of pain relief, due to the anti-inflammatory effects.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on unitypoint.org


What does polymyositis feel like?

muscle weakness. aching or painful muscles and feeling very tired. finding it hard to sit up, or stand after a fall. swallowing problems, or finding it hard to hold your head up.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nhs.uk


What is lupus joint pain like?

Lupus can also cause inflammation in the joints, which doctors call “inflammatory arthritis.” It can make your joints hurt and feel stiff, tender, warm, and swollen. Lupus arthritis most often affects joints that are farther from the middle of your body, like your fingers, wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and toes.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on lupus.org


What does a lupus flare feel like?

During a lupus flare, you could expect to have rashes, joint pain, and possibly a new symptom, too. Some common symptoms of lupus flares include: Painful and swollen joints. Rashes.
Takedown request   |   View complete answer on goodrx.com