Muscle and ligament injuries are quite common but that does not mean that they are not serious injuries or serious conditions that can turn into bigger and worse problems over time. In fact, there are many different types of muscle, ligament, tendon, and joint injuries that one should be cautious about.

Sprains, strains, tendonitis, contusions, bursitis, and other stress related injuries are all something to be watchful of. All of these different ailments including sprains, strains, and stress injuries can all occur from just one incident. Treatment and diagnosis of these injuries can be quite important in order to reduce re-injury as well as to ensure that larger problems do not occur because of the initial injury.

Treatment for sprains, strains, and tendonitis are quite similar. For instance, they follow the R.I.C.E. procedure.

Rest comes first, followed by Ice, then Compression, and then Elevation. Tendonitis is a little bit different than sprains/strains though. Tendonitis does not affect the muscle or ligament.

Like the name implies, it affects the tendon. The tendon is the tissue that attaches muscle to bone. Tendonitis can occur from a one time incident, but more likely it occurs when the same repetitive action is performed.

Typical tendonitis comes from extensive computer or mouse work as well as from different sports. It can be extremely painful and can also disrupt mobility and activity. The most common sports that cause tendonitis are golf, tennis, and swimmers.

Treatment for tendonitis is the same as sprains/strains but it can also include anti-inflammatory medication as well as steroid injections. Then there is bursitis. Bursa is a sac that is filled with fluid that is between the bone and tendon or muscle.

The bursa allows for the tendon to slide smoothly over the bone. However, when the sack becomes irritated through an injury or repetitive stresses it can become inflamed. This inflammation is called bursitis. Bursitis is known to accompany tendonitis. Therefore, it is important to think about your lifestyle and if there is a heightened chance of developing tendonitis or bursitis. For instance, if you are swimmer, tennis player, or golfer, then your chances are obviously heightened. The chances are also heightened for someone who does computer editing or a librarian who does wand swiping consistently every day. To prevent these injuries as well as sprains/strains splints or braces can be worn during these activities to give the area more strength and stability. Or for those who do computer work, ergonomic assessments and work areas are very important. These injuries can affect daily life and mobility and should be taken seriously.

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Muscle sprains really do not exist. The word sprain medically refers to an injury in the ligament of the joint of a body part.

Therefore, it is important to understand that most muscle “sprains” are actually muscle strains. However, the term is commonly used by people who strain their muscles because the two terms are so similar. This is when the muscle has been over stretched and causes pain and sometimes immobility.

The actual injury in a muscle sprains or strain is a tearing of the muscle. It is important to follow the icing and rest that is suggested when a muscle strain does occur. However, muscle pain can also be a sign of something more serious, especially if someone cannot remember doing something that tore the muscle.

There is a condition that is called Fibromyalgia. This condition is characterized by musculoskeletal pain. The most common areas for pain are the base of the neck and spine, the back, and the ribs.

The pain is most often wide spread and does result in lack of mobility and reduced activity.

Sometimes Fibromyalgia is said to be a last ditch diagnosis. It is something that doctors assign to people with unexplainable pain, but the condition does really exist.

Muscle sprains or strains are common in the neck and back, but when an injury as not occurred and there is chronic pain in more than one area a well as chronic pain that does not seem to subside, that Fibromyalgia is a possibility. Fibromyalgia also has many other symptoms that should be analyzed as well. The most common are lack of sleep or sleep problems, fatigue, and a twitching or stiffness in the muscles.

The most common tool for diagnosis is a tender point exam. This is an exam of eighteen points on the body. In order to be diagnosed, the person must be tender and experience pain in at least eleven of those spots.

MRI, CT Scans, and blood or urine tests can be used in order to find out more information about the over all health and obtain a complete visual, but do not offer specific information regarding Fibromyalgia. This is why people think that it is non-existent. There is no real research that has found the cause of the condition, which makes it a little harder to understand as well. However, if someone thinks that they have muscle sprains in several locations or there is ongoing and chronic muscle pain, Fibromyalgia should definitely be looked into. Seeking a doctor about the problems can definitely result in answers to the mystery of where the pain is coming from.