Body Aches and Pain From a Bacterial or Viral illnesses

Pain from a bacterial or viral problem is usually acute pain, lasting only a few days. People tend to have all kinds of aches and pains when they are sick with a bacterial or viral illness, especially when they have a fever. Typically, when a person has an infection, white blood cells respond by releasing cytokines. Cytokines, in turn, cause inflammation which then causes “aches and pains”.

Approaches to Pain Due to Illness​

Over-the-Counter Oral Treatment

The first line medicine for this discomfort is typically over-the-counter medicines

• NSAIDs: (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories) like Ibuprofen (common: Motrin, Advil), naproxen (common: Naprosyn), and acetylsalicylic acid (common: Aspirin) are all good anti-inflammatories and fever-reducers. Another option is

• Acetaminophen (common: Tylenol), is less of an anti-inflammatory and more of a pain-killer and fever-reducer. If you take one of these medications, be sure to read the contraindications and the directions on the bottle (please know that if you have a LOT of pain, it does not mean that you should take more than the recommended maximum dose on the bottle!!)

Body Aches Due to Illness

Herbal and Supplemental Approaches to Aches and Pains

You can try adding one or two of these to a drink or a little bit of applesauce.

• turmeric

• ginger

• willow

• cinnamon

• chamomile

• feverfew

• rosemary

  
  

Prescription Medications

• Corticosteroids: If there is a great deal of inflammation accompanying the illness, like a very sore, inflamed throat or rib discomfort due to a cough, corticosteroids or other prescription pain medications may be prescribed. If you are in too much pain, see a healthcare provider.

• Opioids: These are primarily prescribed for short-term use in very acute pain. (common: Tramadol, hydrocodone, oxycodone, Tramadol). They are controlled substances, potentially addictive medications, rarely needed and rarely prescribed for these problems.

• Ibuprofen - High dose (800 mg) can be prescribed

If your pain is extreme or ongoing, you should consider seeing a healthcare provider.