6 reasons you get dull but persistent aches and pains
<p>Dull aches and pains are part of getting older – usually kicking off in our thirties – but we mustn't shrug them off as simply part of ageing. Here are six potential reasons behind why you’re experiencing dull but persistent aches and pains.</p>
<p><strong>1. Vitamin D deficiency</strong></p>
<p>Basic dull pain can be a simple case of a vitamin D deficiency, which also inhibits vitamin C absorption (to about 10-15 per cent of intake), thus resulting in weak bones. A vitamin D supplement will prove beneficial here, as will having your Iron levels checked, to ensure your pains aren't the result of anaemia.</p>
<p><strong>2. A chronic disorder</strong></p>
<p>More severely, fibromyalgia is a chronic disorder characterised by widespread muscle or musculoskeletal pain, accompanied by stiffness or tenderness on specific parts of your body. Often fatigue, mood, and sleep disorders accompany fibromyalgia, and although some people develop it with no obvious cause, it often begins after physical or emotional trauma or stress, or an infection or surgery.</p>
<p>Certain gene mutations make people more susceptible to fibromyalgia, and women are more likely to have it than men. It's believed to be caused by a change in neurotransmitters, which augment the brain's pain receptors.</p>
<p>There isn't a blood or other lab test that can confirm fibromyalgia; doctors usually diagnose it if you've had widespread pain for many months and no serious underlying cause can be found. It can be eased with physical therapy, exercise, yoga, meditation, pain relievers and prescription muscle relaxers and antidepressants.</p>
<p><strong>3. Nerve damage</strong></p>
<p>Nerve damage can feel similar to fibromyalgia, and is often treated in the same ways. It is usually the result of injury or disease that has caused nerve malfunction. This leads to all-over or site-specific body pain. Cold weather can aggravate it, so sufferers may find the need for treatment is more necessary during the winter months.</p>
<p>Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, on the other hand, is less understood by the medical community. It is thought to result from viral infections, immune system problems, or hormonal imbalances. Treatments for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are similar to those of fibromyalgia, but the most effecting combination is often a combination of a form of physical therapy and exercise with psychological counselling.</p>
<p><strong>4. Stress and anxiety</strong></p>
<p>As such, stress and anxiety cannot be ignored when trying to find ways to aid dull and persistent aches and pains. The physical symptoms of stress and anxiety are different for everybody: Some people get chest pains, others have fatigue during the day and sleeplessness at night, and stomach/bowel problems are also frequently reported.</p>
<p>There's no single way to manage stress or anxiety, and for many of us, these problems are just as chronic as any other disorder. While medications can help manage mental health problems, they cannot address their underlying causes or help change cognitive habitual problems that will likely return at a later date. Accepting the presence of stress or anxiety – and knowing the difference between the two – is the first step, and the second is seeking out counselling or psychotherapy to help get on top of it.</p>
<p><strong>5. Wear and tear arthritis</strong></p>
<p>Mental health aside, dull and persistent pains can also be the result of osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis is sometimes referred to as degenerative joint disease or, as the Arthritis Foundation calls it, "wear and tear arthritis". There's no cure for it; it's the process of joint cartilage and the underlying bone gradually breaking down over time – usually beginning after age 40.</p>
<p>Warning signs of osteoarthritis are stiffness of the joints when getting out of bed or up from sitting, muscle weakness, swelling and creaking or cracking sensations. Light exercise and stretching is key in managing osteoarthritis, and combined painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatories are a first-line treatment. More serious and painful cases may require steroid injections administered by a doctor.</p>
<p><strong>6. Serious disease</strong></p>
<p>While these are some of the common causes and treatments for dull and persistent body pain, it's important to understand such pain can often be a symptom of more serious ailments such as Lyme disease and rheumatoid arthritis, or serious diseases such as lupus, various cancers and autoimmune diseases such as HIV. In any of these cases, early medical intervention is critical in diagnosis and treatment.</p>
<p>Do you have undiagnosed aches and pains you need to look into? Let us know in the comments below.</p>
<p><em>Written by Lee Suckling. First appeared on <a href="http://Stuff.co.nz" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz.</span></strong></a></em></p>
<p><strong>Related links:</strong></p>
<p><a href="/health/body/2016/06/diet-tricks-to-combat-arthritis/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Diet tricks to combat arthritis</span></em></strong></a></p>
<p><a href="/health/body/2016/04/silent-symptoms-of-stress/"><em><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">5 silent symptoms of stress</span></strong></em></a></p>
<p><a href="/health/body/2016/03/home-remedies-for-restless-leg-syndrome/"><strong><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;">4 natural home remedies for restless leg syndrome</span></em></strong></a></p>
