How to Relieve Muscle Soreness from a Cold?

Many people experience muscle soreness after catching a cold. When the pain is severe, massage can be used to relax the muscles. It is best to rest in bed and avoid putting the muscles in a state of fatigue. If nasal congestion or fever occurs, appropriate treatment measures should be taken according to the symptoms. Some drugs that clear heat and detoxify, as well as those that relieve cough and inflammation, can be used for treatment.

(1) Rest: Those with severe illness or who are elderly or frail should rest in bed, avoid smoking, drink plenty of water, and maintain good ventilation indoors.

(2) Antipyretics and analgesics: For symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle soreness, antipyretics and analgesics such as aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen can be used.

(3) Antinasal congestion: When there is nasal congestion, nasal mucosa congestion, and edema, pseudoephedrine hydrochloride can be used, or 1% ephedrine can be used for nasal drops.

(4) Antihistamines: During a cold, nasal mucosa sensitivity often increases, leading to frequent sneezing and runny noses. Antihistamines such as chlorpheniramine maleate or diphenhydramine can be selected for treatment.

(5) Antitussives: For those with more pronounced coughing symptoms, antitussives such as dextromethorphan and pentoxyverine can be prescribed.

(1) Antibacterial drugs: Antibacterial drugs are not needed for pure viral infections. However, if there is evidence of bacterial infection, such as elevated white blood cell count, tonsillar pus, or coughing up yellow mucus, antibiotics such as penicillin, cephalosporins, macrolides, or quinolones can be used as appropriate.

(2) Antiviral drugs: Antiviral drugs have certain therapeutic effects. Rimantadine and its derivative rimantadine hydrochloride can be used to prevent and treat influenza A virus. Moroxydine has certain therapeutic effects on influenza virus, adenovirus, and rhinovirus. Broad-spectrum antiviral drugs such as ribavirin and oseltamivir have strong inhibitory effects on influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, and respiratory syncytial virus, which can shorten the course of the disease.

Chinese herbal medicines with heat-clearing and detoxifying, as well as antiviral effects, can also be selected to help improve symptoms and shorten the course of the disease. Xiaochaihu granules and banlangen granules are widely used. This illness is generally mild, short-lived, and self-limiting, with good prognosis for most patients. However, in rare cases, elderly, frail individuals, or those with multiple underlying diseases, especially those with severe chronic lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), may have poor prognosis due to severe complications.