Diagnostic Tests for Muscle aches

Diagnostic Test list for Muscle aches:

The list of diagnostic tests mentioned in various sources as used in the diagnosis of Muscle aches includes:

• Physical examination
  • Inspect muscles involved for muscle wasting which indicates a primary muscle disease, wasting due to disuse or pathology of the nerve supplying the muscle
  • Peripheral nervous system examination including muscular tone, power, reflexes and coordination
  • Feel the pulses in the legs - if reduced or absent should suggest arterial embolism, peripheral atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) or obstruction of the abdominal aorta and its branches by.
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Inspect for signs of peripheral vascular disease - e.g. reduced or absent pulses, cool pale extremities, loss of hair on lower feet and legs, ulcers on foot, gangrene of skin on toes.
  • Mental state examination (to detect possible depression) - including appearance, behavior, rate and continuity of speech, mood, affect, thought content, evidence of any hallucinations or abnormal beliefs, orientation to time, place and person, attention and concentration, short-term memory, insight and judgement.
• Blood tests
  • Full blood count and ESR
  • Electrolytes (to detect low potassium, low sodium and low calcium which may cause generalized muscle aches)
  • ANA autoantibodies to detect systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Muscle enzymes, if suspect muscle disease
  • Trichinella antibodies, if suspected
• Urine tests
  • 24 hour Urine creatine and Creatinine (if suspect muscle disease)
  • Porphyrins and porphobilinogen, in difficult diagnostic cases
  • 24 hour potassium, sodium or calcium
• Radiological investigations
  • Doppler studies and arteriography, if peripheral pulses are absent or reduced
• Muscle biopsy - may be necessary to diagnose dermatomyositis, trichinosis, cysticercosis.
• Electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction studies - may be helpful in both muscular disease and peripheral neuropathy.
• Spinal tap - will help diagnose poliomyelitis, meningitis and Guillain-Barre syndrome.

Home Diagnostic Testing

These home medical tests may be relevant to Muscle aches causes:

• Nerve Neuropathy: Related Home Testing:
  • Home Diabetes Test Kits
  • Home Blood Glucose Testing Kits

Conditions listing medical symptoms: Muscle aches:

The following list of conditions have 'Muscle aches' or similar listed as a symptom in our database. This computer-generated list may be inaccurate or incomplete. Always seek prompt professional medical advice about the cause of any symptom.

Select from the following alphabetical view of conditions which include a symptom of Muscle aches or choose View All.

Conditions listing medical complications: Muscle aches:

The following list of medical conditions have 'Muscle aches' or similar listed as a medical complication in our database.

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