Muscle pain (Myalgia) is a disorder of the muscles that causes sufferers to feel pain, stiffness, numbness or tingling, even swelling or redness in the affected area. Muscle pain can appear in any part of the body, for example in the neck, back, arms, calves, waist, and others. Symptoms of muscle pain can be different for each sufferer. In addition, in severe cases, sufferers of muscle pain disorders do not only feel pain in certain parts, they can even be felt throughout the body. These muscle disorders can be caused by several factors such as:
- Fatigue from long distance travel
- Muscle injury
- Nervous system disorder
- Excessive physical activity
- Medication side effects
- Viral or bacterial infection
- stress
- Improper posture, etc.
How to deal with muscle pain when going home
Most cases of muscle pain are not a dangerous disease, this disease is a common disorder that almost everyone has experienced. Although the symptoms of muscle pain can appear suddenly, mild muscle pain can go away on its own. If mild symptoms of muscle pain appear during your homecoming trip, here are some ways you can do to relieve symptoms of muscle pain:
- Rest the part affected by muscle pain for some time, don't force it to do something. Relax for a moment until the situation recovers.
- Gently massage the area where it hurts to help blood circulation and reduce muscle tension.
- Stretch before and after physical activity to reduce injury and muscle soreness
- Use a comfortable pillow or cushion to support the painful area. Don't sit too long in the same position.
- Avoid lifting luggage that is too heavy. carry as few items as possible with a balanced distribution of the load. Pay attention to body position when lifting heavy luggage, use the right way by bending at the knees and using the leg muscles to lift the load.
- Sit in the correct body position, not hunched over or hunched over. Sit in an upright and relaxed body position.
- Compress the part that feels painful using ice cubes or warm water
- If needed, you can take pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or paracetamol. Before you take drugs you should consult with your doctor first.
Tips to avoid muscle pain disorders when going home
So that your homecoming trip feels comfortable and avoids muscle pain, you can do the following preparations to avoid muscle pain while traveling:
- Start a healthy lifestyle habit, by exercising regularly before going home
- Use a comfortable vehicle, with a soft seat and quite relieved
- Take regular breaks every 2-3 hours to reduce tension in the muscles.
- Do not carry things that are too heavy in the wrong position
- Use clothes that are not tight to avoid muscle tension.
- Drink enough water, meet your water needs during the trip
- Adjust the correct sitting position (upright and relaxed body)
- Take occasional stretches during the trip.
Before traveling long distances, make sure you prepare yourself to avoid unpleasant distractions. Take care of your health by paying attention to food patterns and lifestyle as a support for readiness to travel long distances. If muscle pain persists and is accompanied by other symptoms such as fever, nausea, vomiting, or redness in the painful area, consult your doctor immediately to get the right treatment.
Article written by dr. Rene Rizaldi Pradnasurya, Sp.KFR (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist at EMC Cibitung & Cikarang Hospital).