Do you get aching limbs with every cold?

Not every cold is necessarily accompanied by aching limbs. Because the pain in the limbs is primarily caused by the physical inflammatory reaction and the loss of fluid or electrolytes, it can be concluded that in the case of weaker colds without fever, pain in the limbs does not necessarily have to be a symptom.

Duration of pain in the limbs

Pain in the limbs as a symptom of a cold, like the underlying disease itself, usually lasts only a few days. As a rule, they do not last longer than ten days. They subside at the same time as the fever and rhinitis. Only in rare cases can the pain in the limbs persist for a long time after the cold. If no improvement is noticed over this longer period, a visit to a doctor should be sought.

This can be done against the pain in the limbs

Limb pain can be improved with simple measures. The affected limbs should be protected accordingly and no increased muscle strain, such as weight training, should be exercised. In the acute inflammatory phase, i.e. at the beginning of the cold, the affected areas can be cooled to counteract the inflammation.

Cooling should only be done for a short period of time and not all four limbs at the same time to avoid effects on the circulation.In advanced stages of the common cold, applications with heat are recommended instead of cooling. If the pain is very intense, a common painkiller such as ibuprofen can be taken for a short time. Only small doses of painkillers should be taken, because in addition to their pain-relieving effect, they also inhibit the body’s defence reaction, which is important for fighting the pathogens.

Furthermore, one can do careful stretching exercises to loosen up the muscles and improve their blood circulation. Sufficient fluid intake is not only important for the muscles, but also for the water balance of the entire body, which loses a lot of fluid and important electrolytes due to increased sweating. With all these specific approaches, one should not lose sight of the cause of limb pain. In the case of a cold, the pain in the limbs usually lasts only as long as the cold itself, so that sufficient physical rest and general measures against the cold have an indirect positive effect on the pain in the limbs. Read also: Therapy of a cold