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Aches & Pains

Aches and pains can be more than just a minor inconvenience; they can cause mild discomfort to intense pain and affect various parts of your body, including your muscles, joints, and back.

Aches and pains can also be chronic (ongoing for a long period) or acute (arising suddenly). Our goal is to help you identify the cause of your aches and provide effective treatments to alleviate them.

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Common Aches & Pains

Muscle Aches: Often caused by overuse, strain, or injury. Muscle aches can result from exercise, poor posture, or prolonged sitting.
Joint Pain: This can occur due to arthritis, injuries, or repetitive strain. Joint pain might be accompanied by swelling, stiffness, or reduced mobility.
Back Pain: Ranging from lower back pain to upper back discomfort, this type of ache is often linked to poor posture, muscle strain, or underlying spinal issues.
Headaches: These can be tension-type, migraine, or cluster headaches. They often come with symptoms like throbbing pain, sensitivity to light, and nausea.

Understanding Chronic vs. Acute Aches

Chronic aches are characterised by pain lasting more than three months and are often caused by conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia. This type of pain may be persistent or fluctuate in intensity.

In contrast, acute aches involve sudden onset pain that typically lasts for a short period, often resulting from an injury or strain. Acute pain usually resolves as the injury heals.

Managing these types of pain requires different approaches: chronic pain often involves long-term lifestyle changes and ongoing management strategies, while acute pain can be addressed with short-term relief methods and treatments focused on healing the injury.

Reducing The Risk Of Body Aches

Preventing aches often involves maintaining good habits and taking proactive steps. Regular exercise is crucial for keeping muscles and joints flexible and strong; incorporating activities like walking, swimming, or cycling into your routine can be beneficial.

Practicing good posture by maintaining proper alignment while sitting, standing, or sleeping helps reduce strain on your muscles and joints.

Additionally, ergonomic adjustments in your workspace can support good posture and minimise repetitive strain injuries.

Lastly, incorporating regular stretching into your daily routine can help keep muscles flexible and reduce the risk of strain.

Self-Care Techniques For Managing Pain

Severe pain always needs to be treated by a healthcare professional.

However, for minor aches, patients can manage pain at home using several practical self-care tips and techniques. Stretching and strengthening exercises can be particularly effective; simple exercises designed to improve flexibility and muscle strength can help alleviate discomfort.

Additionally, home remedies such as heat packs, cold packs, and Epsom salts can provide temporary relief and aid in reducing pain.

When To Seek Help

If your aches are persistent, severe, or affecting your daily activities, it is important to seek medical advice.

Our experienced team is here to provide expert care and support to help you get back to feeling your best.

Typical Causes

Aches can arise from a variety of causes, including:

Injury Or Trauma: Accidents or injuries can result in localised pain and discomfort.
Poor Posture: Sitting or standing improperly for extended periods can strain muscles and joints.
Chronic Conditions: Conditions like arthritis or fibromyalgia can cause persistent aches and pains.
Muscle Overuse: Intense physical activity or repetitive movements can lead to muscle fatigue and soreness.

Other Factors That Could Cause Aches & Pains

Additional causes of aches and pains include:

Dehydration: Inadequate fluid intake can result in muscle cramps and aches.
Infections: Viral or bacterial infections can cause muscle and joint pain as part of a broader symptom set, such as flu or cold.
Underlying Medical Conditions: Issues like kidney disease or thyroid disorders can manifest as generalised aches and pains.
Inflammatory Diseases: Conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis involve systemic inflammation that can cause widespread pain.
Nutritional Deficiencies: Lack of essential nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, can lead to muscle cramps and general discomfort.
Stress And Tension: Emotional stress and tension can lead to muscle tightness and discomfort, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and back.

Statistics

of the UK population have chronic pain

0 %

people of the UK population have high-impact chronic pain

0 Mill

of the UK population have low-impact chronic pain

0 %

common types of pain: back pain, headache & joint pain

What to do next

If you are experiencing ongoing pain, it is important to see one of our doctors for a thorough consultation and examination in order to determine the cause and find a suitable treatment. The examination will help the doctor either tell you what is going on or recommend the specific testing and imaging required to find the right diagnosis and specialist referral or treatment plan.

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Can aches and pains be caused by emotional factors?

Yes, body aches can be a symptom accompanying anxiety, nervousness, fear, or high stress.

What is the link between stress and muscular pain?

When the body is responding to stress, certain hormones are released into the bloodstream, and can cause the muscles to tense up. Usually, the body recovers quite quickly from this change, but if the stress response is repeated, or prolonged, it can lead to ongoing muscle pain and tightness.

Why do my muscles feel sore after exercise?

It is commonly thought that aches and pains in your muscles after exercise is due to microdamage to the muscle fibres. The more you are working to build strength, the more this happens. A doctor or physiotherapist can help you understand how to train safely.

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