why does your body get achy when you are sick?
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A very incomplete explanation is that cells responding to the virus (including non-specific cells called dendritic cells and virus-specific cells called Th1 cells) release certain chemicals into your bloodstream including IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-A. These chemicals circulate around the body and act on muscles and joints, causing cells such as the fiber-creating cells and the tissue lining cells to make more of certain chemicals such as COX-2 (which is blocked by ibuprofen and naproxen and the like). These enzymes then can convert fatty molecules into a type of messenger called a prostaglandin. These prostaglandins make nerves more sensitive to pain and also promote inflammation by several processes.
Many of these chemicals, including those released into the bloodstream and the ones that released directly into a tissue are created similarly regardless of the viral infection. This is on reason why so many very different infections can cause a lot of the same symptoms. Also there is evidence to suggest that some of these chemicals also change your behavior, making you want to avoid crowds of people and physical activity.
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