Muscles (Part 3) Muscle Injuries and Diseases

Muscles become injured when they are outstretched, torn or bruised due to accidents. They may also be affected by some diseases. What are these injuries and diseases?

Muscle Injuries.

Strain. Strain is the tearing or stretching of muscle fibers when they are suddenly pulled apart too far. Sometimes there is a bleeding in the affected area which causes pain and swelling. To treat a train, apply an ice pack to the affected area. Analgesics may be taken to relieve pain. Analgesics are drugs that are used to treat pain.

Cramp. Cramp is an uncontrolled and prolonged contraction of a muscle accompanied by pain. It usually lasts for a few minutes. Cramp is usually caused by a buildup of lactic acid in the muscle during or immediately after a strenuous exercise. It also happens after repetitive movements like writing for long hours. Lack of oxygen in the muscle due to poor blood circulation while at rest can also cause cramps. This is what happens when one sits or lies down in an awkward position. The loss of large amounts of salts from the body after intense sweating can also lead to cramp. Pain can be eased by massaging the affected muscles to improve blood circulation and eliminate lactic acid.

Bruise. When a part of your body bumps against a hard object or receives a hard blow, you are likely to have a muscle bruise. The skin over the affected muscle becomes black or blue due to blood clot. A cold compress over the affected area will prevent swelling and ease the pain. Sometimes, a bruise may appear on any part of the body without being bumped. If the bruise last for several days, consult a doctor because this may be a sign of some bleeding disorder.

Disease and Disorders of Muscles and tendons.

Diseases may also affect muscles and tendons. Some of these diseases are inherited. Others are caused by infections.

Tendinitis. Tendinitis is an inflammation or swelling of the tendons specially in the knees, hells, shoulders and elbows. An inflamed tendon is painful and it restricts the movement of the muscle attached to it. Doctors use anti-inflammatory drugs to cure tendonitis.

Trigger Finger. Sometimes one or several fingers maybe locked in a bent position. This disorder is called trigger finger. It is caused by the inflammation of the sheath that encloses the tendon together with inflammation of the tendon itself. Doctors inject a corticosteroid drug to treat trigger finger. Sometimes, an operation is performed to widen the opening of the sheath so that the tendon can reenter the sheath when the person tries to extend the finger.

Infection. One of the most serious infection of muscles is gangrene. Gangrene is the death of muscle tissues due to bacterial infection or the absence of blood supply. It may affect a small area of skin, a finger or a large part of an arm or leg. The affected area turns black when infection develops and gives of an unpleasant smell as it spreads. The surrounding area becomes red and swollen. Pus comes  out of the area which has turned black. When gangrene is caused by bacterial infection, the affected part is cut off.

Tumors. Both skeletal and smooth muscles may be affected by tumors. A tumor is an abnormal mass of tissue. It is formed when some cells in a specific part of the body reproduce very fast. In women, tumors usually develop in the uterus. Doctors remove tumors by operation.

Myasthenia Gravis. Myasthenia gravis is a disorder in which the muscles become weak and tire easily. The muscles commonly affected are those of the eyes, face, throat and limbs. A person with myasthenia gravis has drooping eyelids and has difficulty in speaking, chewing and swallowing. Regular medication is needed to treat mild cases of myasthenia gravis. This is not a very common disease.

Muscular Dystrophy. Muscular dystrophy is an inherited muscular disorder in which the muscles slowly but progressively become weak. Some types of muscular dystrophy begin in early childhood. Children with muscular dystrophy have difficulty in learning to sit up and walk. Even when they grow up, they cannot walk. Children who are affected by muscular dystrophy should not be allowed to become overweight because this will make their condition worse. As much as possible, they should be active so that the muscles which are not yet affected by the disease will remain in good condition.

As additional information, a stitch is a sharp pain in the abdomen which may occur when you are running. This is caused by blood being sent to the exercising muscles, thus depriving the abdominal muscles of blood.