Myalgia means “muscle pain” and is a symptom of many diseases and disorders. The most common causes are the overuse or over-stretching of a muscle or group of muscles. Myalgia without a traumatic history is often due to viral infections. Longer-term myalgias may be indicative of a metabolic myopathy, some nutritional deficiencies or chronic fatigue syndrome.
Causes
The most common causes of myalgia are overuse, injury or stress. However, myalgia can also be caused by diseases, disorders, medications, as a response to vaccination It is also a sign of acute rejection after heart transplant surgery.
The most common causes are:
Injury or trauma including sprains and strains
Overuse: using a muscle too much, too soon, too often
Tension or stress
Muscle pain may also be due to:
Certain drugs, including:
ACE inhibitors for lowering blood pressure
Cocaine
Statins for lowering cholesterol
Dermatomyositis
Electrolyte imbalances like too little potassium or calcium
Fibromyalgia
Infections, including:
Influenza (the flu)
Lyme disease
Malaria
Dengue Fever
Muscle abscess
Polio
Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Trichinosis (roundworm)
Lupus
Polymyalgia rheumatica
Polymyositis
Rhabdomyolysis