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Suggest Treatment For Severe Muscle Pain In An Elderly Person
Posted on
Thu, 8 Dec 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 8 Dec 2016
Answered on
Sat, 24 Dec 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : I have a lot of mucsles and nerves hurting and messing up could it be some kind of disorder ? my legs been hurting me since I was little .iam 51 still hurting.
Brief Answer:
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Of course widespread pain may be in the setting of muscle related conditions. Usually characteristics of the pain are different in nerve related conditions and should be distinguishable, it is more in the form of abnormal sensations such as burning, freezing, tingling etc. Also physical neurological exam should evidence nerve or muscle involvement by assessing presence and distribution of altered reflexes, sensation or motor strength.
Apart from the pain characteristics tests should also distinguish the type of damage. By damage I mean nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG) which studies nerve conduction and muscle activity. In addition blood tests would help both to detect changes indicating muscle damage such as elevated muscle enzymes as well as search for possible causes like metabolic, hormonal, rheumatologic, genetic etc. If the symptoms are limited to certain areas then imaging of the brain and spinal cord may also be considered.
At times tests may result normal and the pain may be in the setting of fibromyalgia a disorder characterized by widespread pain.
So while to answer your question a nerve and muscle disorder is certainly possible, to be more specific on the type more information on nature and distribution of symptoms as well as tests are needed.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Read below.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
Of course widespread pain may be in the setting of muscle related conditions. Usually characteristics of the pain are different in nerve related conditions and should be distinguishable, it is more in the form of abnormal sensations such as burning, freezing, tingling etc. Also physical neurological exam should evidence nerve or muscle involvement by assessing presence and distribution of altered reflexes, sensation or motor strength.
Apart from the pain characteristics tests should also distinguish the type of damage. By damage I mean nerve conduction studies and electromyography (EMG) which studies nerve conduction and muscle activity. In addition blood tests would help both to detect changes indicating muscle damage such as elevated muscle enzymes as well as search for possible causes like metabolic, hormonal, rheumatologic, genetic etc. If the symptoms are limited to certain areas then imaging of the brain and spinal cord may also be considered.
At times tests may result normal and the pain may be in the setting of fibromyalgia a disorder characterized by widespread pain.
So while to answer your question a nerve and muscle disorder is certainly possible, to be more specific on the type more information on nature and distribution of symptoms as well as tests are needed.
I remain at your disposal for other questions.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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