Muscle Pain: Causes, Prevention and Treatment

Most of us have experienced muscle pain at some point of time or the other. The medical term for the condition is myalgia. The psychological term? Harassment!

If you are working out at the gym, you would have definitely come across people saying that muscle pain is a good sign. It indicates that your lifts and pulls are working on your muscles and the soreness is the result of such an activity. It is indeed true.

But, not all types of muscle pains are worthy of our bearing. Some of them can be localized to one muscle or can be spread across a muscle group. Some of them can be severe while some others, mild to moderate. It also depends on the root cause of the pain.

Muscle pain causes can be many. Most common ones include-
•    Muscle injury due to an accident
•    Prolonged and persistent illness or a viral flu
•    Bacterial infections
•    Overstraining the muscles with excess physical activity
•    Lack of proper posture in sitting and standing.
•    Severe burns or cuts

Here is a small guide to the steps you can take to avoid muscle pain and also, a solution to your prevailing muscle pain and discomfort.

Steps to avoid muscle pain:

Prevention is always better than cure. There are a few tips with which you can avoid muscle pain naturally-

•    Always maintain a regular exercising schedule to keep your muscles toned and active.
•    Before you start exercising, remember to warm up so as to give the muscles a little boost of energy.
•    Stretch your arms and legs every morning after you wake up or before you leave for office.
•    Avoid overusing or overstraining your muscles while exercising.
•    Drink lots and lots of water to keep your body hydrated.
•    Also, resort to a healthy diet that contains a well-balanced amount of nutrition.

How to cure muscle pain?

Muscle pain cannot be treated overnight. But with proper care and treatment, you can get rid of it quite easily. Proper rest and therapy are important in such cases. If the pain is severe and quite traumatic, you must visit the doctor immediately. Healthcare professionals mostly trust pain medications which can relieve you from the discomfort and pain instantly. As a result, the underlying cause can be treated with ease.

One such amazing muscle pain reliever is Soma, which also goes by its generic name of Carisoprodol. It is an oral prescription drug that is trusted by most doctors for treating muscle pain. It belongs to the group of pain medications called muscle relaxers.

Here is what you should know about Soma for pain relief.

How does Soma pill work?

The exact mechanism of action is not yet known but research is still going on. Most of the studies show that Carisoprodol works by modulating certain neurotransmitters sent in by the nerves to transfer pain signals.

Carisoprodol binds to the receptors in the brain which act as relay stations for the nerves. This blocks out the painful sensations between the brain and the nerves.
The muscles feel relaxed from the discomfort and pain instantly. The underlying treatment can be carried out without any discomfort.

What is the Soma dosage for pain relief?

•    The recommended dosage for Soma is 250-350 mg which you can take three times a day and even during bedtime.

•    Soma 500 mg is the maximum dosage which should be taken if and only if it is prescribed.

•    The maximum recommended period to take this medication is 2 to 3 weeks

•    Do not increase or decrease the dose without prior approval from the doctor.

•    Do not try to overdose on Soma pill.

Points to remember before you take Soma:

•    Do not take this medication during pregnancy as there can be risks associated with miscarriage or birth defects in the baby. 

•    Lactating mothers should also avoid the use of this drug as the drug might pass into the breast milk and harm the baby or the mother herself.

•    It is not recommended for use in children and young adults under 16 years of age.

•     Do not take this drug if you are suffering from liver or kidney problems. Without proper metabolism and drug removal mechanism, there can be drug accumulation in the body which is not desirable.

•    Do not take this drug if you have a recent history of cardiovascular problems especially coronary heart disorder, high blood pressure, chest pain and the like. It can increase the heart rate or worsen the prevailing condition. Chances of a cardiac arrest are also high if you take Soma under such conditions.

•    While taking Soma, do not take vitamins, herbal products, supplements or other prescription/non-prescription drugs without informing your doctor.

•    Alcohol consumption should be avoided while on this medication. Alcohol can dull the effects of this medication and make you feel dizzy or nauseated.

Soma Side Effects:

Common side effects of Soma are-

•    Dizziness
•    Drowsiness
•    Vomiting
•    Blurred vision
•    Sleeping problems
•    Mild headaches
•    Chills 
•    Cough
•    Sore throat
This is not a complete list and you should check with your doctor immediately if you face any side effects of Soma pill.

Why shouldn’t you go for Soma overdose?

Soma is a controlled substance and has sedative effects. Due to its addictive potential, doctors do not always prescribe this medication to people with a history of drug abuse. A few symptoms of Soma overuse are as follows-

•    Confusion at work
•    Difficulty speaking
•    Difficulty in breathing
•    Having trouble swallowing food
•    Unusual facial expression
•    Frequent blinking
•    Visual hallucinations