The oldest of the old question.

[Hedgemonkey]

Why is it, when you have a cold/flu, does it affect your bloody legs, nothing this morning, zip, zilch absolutely f**ck all...

 

[screenman]

One of the main reasons that your body aches when you are sick, like with a cold, is that your body's immune system is producing plenty of antibodies in addition to the effects of all those viruses replicating in your cells killing them and leaving the area ‘raw’ and exposed.

These antibodies also promote the release of histamine which typically dilates (widens) blood vessel near an infection, this allows for more of the body's defences to get at the infection. There are histamine receptors in blood vessels that cause them to dilate.

As these chemicals are released into your blood stream they can end up in your muscles or other body parts. Various body systems can have receptors to histamine that can then trigger a pain receptor.

In addition to histamine there are biochemicals called cytokines that are released when the body has an immune response that are also known to trigger a biochemical pathway that can affect pain receptors.

Histamine and cytokines releases can change the perception of pain receptors in the body making them more sensitive to pain factors.

There are other factors that come into play also such as biochemicals called interleukins that relate to fever conditions and temperature increases, all of which can affect pain receptors in different ways, for example heat receptors.

The overall perception of pains and aches over the whole body can vary from person to person and there may be other combinations of psychological, physiological or even nutritional factors that may influence this.

 

[alicat]

In other words, you are ill so you feel ropey.

 

[Dirk]

@screenman You forgot the link.
http://clearlyexplained.com/answers/aches.html

 

[Hedgemonkey]

So in theory, the more the legs feel like 2 planks covered in cement, the quicker the recovery, due to the body putting up a big fight against the invaders... Yup I can work through that one.

 

[Drago]

Get your doctor to bleed you and prescribe a course of leeches.

 

[Bollo]

I recommend a homeopathic cure. Sit on your bike but don't ride anywhere. You'll soon feel great!

 

[subaqua]

I recommend a homeopathic cure. Sit on your bike but don't ride anywhere. You'll soon feel great!

but only sit on it for a really really small amount of time

 

[vickster]

Get your doctor to bleed you and prescribe a course of leeches.

Don't forget cupping and trepanning

 

[midlife]

Get your doctor to bleed you and prescribe a course of leeches.

With a bit of help from Blackadder

Shaun

 

[screenman]

@screenman You forgot the link.
http://clearlyexplained.com/answers/aches.html

I can assure nobody on here thought I wrote that on my own.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

So in theory, the more the legs feel like 2 planks covered in cement, the quicker the recovery, due to the body putting up a big fight against the invaders... Yup I can work through that one.

Until your body puts up such a big fight your own immune system kills you via a cytokine storm.

 

[Hedgemonkey]

I recommend a homeopathic cure. Sit on your bike but don't ride anywhere. You'll soon feel great!

Lol.....Thats fine on a wet, cold and foggy day, possibly a tad frustrating if its nice weather.

 

[Hedgemonkey]

Until your body puts up such a big fight your own immune system kills you via a cytokine storm.

It felt like cytokine was having a bloody good go this morning, but rode home tonight like a different person, tyres hummed, gears whirred pleasantly and I missed every pot hole ( nearly )....

 

[Hedgemonkey]

Don't forget cupping and trepanning

I tend to use tarmac to bring on the bleeding.