What Causes Moving Pain in Body & What are its Home Remedies?

Migratory or moving pain affects different parts of the body at different times. Migratory pain can manifest as muscular throbbing, aching, shooting, burning, stabbing or sharp pain, or it can produce an overall body ache which mimics flu-like symptoms. Moving pain is extremely common and can be a symptom of many underlying conditions. Read on to know all about moving pain in body, causes, home remedies and when to see a doctor for such type of pain.

Although mostly harmless, it is still always better to understand the cause of migratory pain and seek appropriate medical attention for it. Some of the most common causes of moving pain are:

Even though Fibromyalgia affects millions of people around the world, this condition is still not well understood. Researchers believe multiple factors like infections, genetics, and physical or emotional trauma, together cause fibromyalgia. The common symptoms of fibromyalgia are sleep disturbances, general fatigue, and widespread pain, which tends to wax, wane and migrate to different parts of the body. Repeated nerve stimulation is believed to cause abnormal increase in the levels of certain chemicals in the brain, which signal pain in fibromyalgia patient. In fibromyalgia, pain memories stored by the brain can be reactivated and intensified, and these amplified signals can trigger the occurrence of body changes like brain wave fluctuations, disturbed sleep stages, and dropping serotonin levels.

Arthritis is a condition characterised by pain and inflammation in the joints of the body. In migratory arthritis, rapid onset of swelling in one or both the joints is experienced by the patient. Once these symptoms resolve, similar symptoms start emerging in another joint, mostly in an asymmetric location. Then these symptoms usually fade away within the next few days before flaring up again. Migratory arthritis is mostly associated with Rheumatoid arthritis, Osteoarthritis, lupus and gout. Regardless of the kind of arthritis a person is suffering from, it is almost impossible to predict when or where the pain will move.

Other medical conditions like inflammatory hepatitis B, hepatitis C, bowel disease (IBD), and different bacterial infections can also cause moving body pain. People suffering from Pneumonia, Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), stress, dehydration, lack of sleep, fluid retention, and hypokalemia can experience moving pain in body too.

Some home remedies which can help relieve moving body pain are:

Apple Cider Vinegar: This is the most effective home remedy for a moving muscular pain. A person suffering from this sort of body ache should soak their body in a bath tub filled with a mix of warm water and 2 cups of apple cider vinegar for a few minutes and then see the migratory pain fade away gradually.

Cold Shower: A cold-water shower is a simple home remedy for moving pain in body, which also helps to ease the damage caused by overuse of muscles. Cold compression also proves to be an effective home remedy in relieving stiffness and soreness of the muscles. A moving body pain can also be relieved simply by applying cold compress to the affected areas for around 30 minutes.

Banana: Potassium and calcium are required by the body for maintaining strong and healthy bones and muscles. Fortunately, bananas are loaded with these nutrients. So, by eating a raw banana, or drinking a glass of banana shake every day is a great home remedy for relieving fatigue and moving pain in the body.

Ginger: Ginger is known for its powerful anti-inflammatory properties and is thus recognised as an extremely effective home remedy for moving body pains and aches. Ginger also helps to improve the blood circulation in the body. Just by drinking a cup of hot ginger tea, one can get quick relief from moving pain in the body.

Mustard Oil: Mustard oil acts as a natural rubefacient, which boosts the flow of blood to the surface of the skin and accelerates the healing process. Mustard oil is also considered to be one of the best home remedies for moving body pain. A person suffering from migratory pain should heat a mix of 4 tbsp mustard oil and 10 chopped cloves of garlic, then cool the mix, strain it and finally massage it on the affected regions to relieve the migratory pain. This mustard oil massage should be done thrice a day for rapid relief from moving pain in body.

Turmeric: Well known for its anti-inflammatory properties, turmeric is a natural painkiller and is used in many home remedies. Moving pain in the body can be healed effectively by drinking a glass of hot milk with 1 tsp of turmeric mixed in it. This spice can also be used to ease heart burn, arthritic pain and inflammation.

Cinnamon: A great home remedy for joint aches, cinnamon has been widely used to treat arthritis since ages. It is because of the powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of this spice that it can also cure moving pain effectively and makes a great home remedy for migratory pain. By drinking a cup of lukewarm milk mixed with ½ tsp cinnamon powder and 1 tbsp honey first thing in the morning, joint pain and moving pain in the body can be relieved naturally.

There are certain other things which a person suffering from moving pain in the body can do to help themselves, such as adopting a good attitude, taking sufficient rest, get proper exercise, consume optimal amount of fluids, and regulate their body temperature. Although managing this migratory pain can be a frustrating, exhausting and even depressing affair, recent studies have shown that patients who maintain positive emotions in general can experience about 28% less moving pain in the body than those who don’t.

Moving pain should be treated promptly to break the pain cycle. Because of its very nature, migratory pain can be very difficult to diagnose. A pain management specialist normally starts the diagnostic process with a physical examination of the patient, evaluation of the pain’s medical history, and blood tests which aim to check for markers that can indicate certain conditions, like rheumatoid arthritis. Patients can then be advised to take OTC and prescription pain relievers to ease the pain.

A person suffering from moving pain in the body should consult a doctor if home treatments prove ineffective. Medical attention should also be sought if migratory body ache is persistent and intense, if it is caused by certain medications or tick bite, or if the moving pain is accompanied by symptoms like rash, constant fever, severe swelling or redness. Other symptoms that can accompany a moving body ache and need emergency medical attention are breathlessness, severe water retention, stiff neck, muscle weakness, inability to move the affected area, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, difficulty in swallowing, fainting, and seizures. If moving body pain persists for more than 2 weeks and the underlying cause cannot be determined, a person must consult a doctor regardless of whether any other symptoms occur or not. The doctor can help diagnose the exact cause of the migratory pain and ascertain if treatment is necessary.