Flu, bacterial infections, a reaction to a drug or an underlying medical condition can give you body aches and make you feel tired without having a fever.
There may be an underlying issue if the exhaustion and body aches persisted for over two weeks. You must consult your doctor so you can be diagnosed at once.
But if you don't have an illness, a massage might be all you need to address those body pains and fatigue.
Why is My Body Aching and I Have No Energy?
Flu, lack of sleep and stress are just some of the reasons you’re feeling tired and achy all day long.
It is normal to have a fever and feel tired and achy when you have the flu and other viral infections. But what about if you have the symptoms of an illness except the fever?
Here are some possible causes:
1. Stress
Stress can cause body aches. However, the pain is different from the aches you experience from an illness.
Body aches caused by stress often manifest on your neck, shoulders and back. Moreover, the pain may come on more slowly.
Contrastingly, your whole body will feel achy when you're sick. The pain often comes on quickly and can become intense over a short period.
Since stress can cause your muscles to tighten up, you need to add some relaxation techniques to your day. A yoga and massage combo can be an excellent way to loosen up those muscles and relieve body pains caused by stress.
2. Lack of Sleep (Non-restorative Sleep)
Sleep is essential for your body to repair and recover. Did you know that the first part of sleep has 4 stages, with the 4th stage being the rejuvenation stage? So, you need to have full hours of sleep.
8 straight hours of sleep is not the same as 8 interrupted hours because you most likely will not reach the rejuvenation stage. Thus, if you're not getting enough sleep, or feel tired, your body may not have enough time to recover, causing body aches and fatigue. Sleep deprivation can lead to decreased energy levels, making it difficult to perform daily activities.
Here's what you should do:
Be mindful of what you eat and drink
You shouldn't also go to bed stuffed. So, avoid having large meals two hours before going to bed.
Don't consume caffeine and alcohol before going to bed. The stimulating effects of caffeine can take several hours to wear off. And whilst alcohol can make you feel sleepy, you might struggle to fall asleep if you had too much.
Make sure your bedroom is strictly for sleeping
Your bedroom should be free from attention-grabbing things that tell your brain and body that it is a place of activity, not rest. Exercise equipment, video games, phones and tablets in the bedroom can distract your mind and keep you up all night.
Keep your daytime nap hours short
Taking long daytime naps can prevent you from sleeping early in the evening. You should also avoid napping late in the day.
3. Viral Infection
Viral infections cause body aches and fever. But people with the flu, especially older adults and those with a weak immune system, may not have a fever.
Viral infections can last more than two weeks. Take over-the-counter medications to ease those body aches.
4. Lyme Disease
People get Lyme disease after getting bitten by a deer tick. Common symptoms of this disease are:
• Fever
• Rash
• Fatigue
• Body aches
• Chills
• Headache
Patients with Lyme disease often experience a mild fever, although some may not have a fever at all. Doctors administer antibiotics as treatment for Lyme disease.
5. Autoimmune Disorder
If you have an autoimmune disorder, your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the healthy tissues in your body. Inflammation or painful swelling often occurs in the affected areas.
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) attacks several joints at once. Typically, the joints in your hands, wrists and knees. The redness and swelling can damage the joint tissue, which may lead to long-lasting pain.
• Multiple sclerosis (MS) attacks the substances that protect the nerve fibres in your brain and spinal cord. Consequently, your limbs will feel numb or become weak. You’ll also feel sudden pain every time you move your neck.
• Dermatomyositis is a rare disease that can weaken your muscles and
often results in joint pain.
• Lupus attacks your internal organs as well as your skin and joints. And whilst fever is one of the symptoms, the temperature often does not go over 38.33 degrees Celsius (101 degrees F).
Whilst there is currently no cure, medications can help relieve muscle pain and weakness that comes with autoimmune diseases.
6. Fibromyalgia
When you’re suffering from fibromyalgia, your body will feel exhausted, achy and extremely sensitive to pain. You are more at risk if you are:
• in your 40s
• a female or
• suffering from an autoimmune disease such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
Healthcare professionals have yet to understand fibromyalgia. Currently, this disease has no cure. And for this reason, fibromyalgia treatment focuses on:
• Reducing the symptoms
• Medications to improve the patient’s quality of life
• Lifestyle changes and
• Self-care strategies
If taking medications has failed, you may try massage therapy, it is a natural remedy for fibromyalgia. Specifically, deep tissue massage can be beneficial for your physical and mental health.
7. Reaction to a drug
Your body might be reacting to certain medications like those intended for treating high blood pressure. This leaves you feeling sore, stiff and achy.
8. Vitamin and Nutrient Deficiencies
Your body will not function properly if it does not have the right amounts of vitamins and nutrients. The shortage of vitamins and nutrients can affect how tissues in your body interact. More often than not, it will lead to body aches and fatigue.
9. Chronic Illness
Chronic fatigue syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and autoimmune disorders are chronic illnesses that can cause long-lasting pain and fatigue. Performing daily activities can be difficult since your energy levels have decreased.
10. Sedentary Lifestyle
Sitting all day long and performing repetitive tasks can weaken other muscle groups. Make sure to exercise regularly to strengthen those other muscles and improve your overall energy levels.
When Should I Seek Help?
We occasionally experience muscle pain, weakness and fatigue. But at what point should we seek help?
You should see your doctor when you suddenly feel weak or experience widespread pain even though you didn’t engage in any physical activity. If you can’t identify the reason why you’re doing fine one minute and then suddenly start feeling unwell, you must seek help immediately.
You might have an underlying condition if you feel tired and achy for more than two weeks. You should also be concerned if your condition has not improved despite making some healthy changes.
Problems often arise from your sedentary lifestyle. Also, there are other causes of tiredness, and muscle pain without fever such as:
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Injured muscles, joints or bones
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Cancer
• Poor nutrition
• Reaction to a drug
Conclusion
Give your doctor a visit if you’ve been feeling tired and achy for more than two weeks. They can diagnose if you have an underlying problem, help ease the symptoms that are causing your body aches and fatigue, and create a treatment plan.
But maybe a massage is all you need to ease the tension of your tired and achy muscles. Book now and melt away those body aches and pains whilst improving your quality of life!
Related read: What Toxins are Released After a Massage?
FAQ:
How can massage help when I have muscle aches and no energy?
A massage can ease tension in the muscles and increase blood flow. It reduces the redness and swelling in the muscles, tendons and joints. And it also helps the affected areas to heal faster, which reduces body aches and fatigue.
What does it mean when your whole body hurts and aches?
Aches and pain all over your body could mean you have an underlying problem. You may be suffering from chronic illnesses or autoimmune disorders.
What illness starts with body aches?
A viral infection like the flu can give you body aches. Autoimmune disorders, nutrient deficiency, viral infections, stress or lack of sleep can also cause body aches.
