For many people, it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between bone and muscle pain as they usually affect similar areas of the body and have similar degrees of intensity. In general, pain in bones will feel sharper, deeper, and more debilitating than muscle pain.
Initially, the best suggested course of action would be to schedule an appointment with a health care professional first before determining what type of “pain” you are experiencing and thus deciding on what therapy will best suit the needs of the injury.
The health care pros that might choose to go through a “Movement Science” program are prepared for the work as well as the many challenges facing patients with chronic pain in either the muscles, bones or nerves. Academic preparation in this field provides a foundation for a wide range of careers in fields including, but not limited to, exercise physiologists, personal trainers, fitness managers, worksite wellness coordinators, physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, athletic trainers, and group exercise instructors. A good program will meet the needs of both students seeking career training programs leading to an industry-accepted credentials/certificates (for physical therapy assistants) and those seeking to transfer to a four-year institution (for physical therapy or orthopedics).
The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reports findings that the most common causes of fractures are:
Osteoporosis is a “porous bones” disease that is more common in older adults, with causes that include hyperthyroidism, menopause, cancer treatment with anticancer drugs or radiation, and a family history of osteoporosis. However, it is not necessarily painful unless and until a collapsed vertebra or a fracture occurs.
Most do not show symptoms, so watch out for early signs of:
- Severe pain in the back
- Height loss
- Hunched or stooped posture
- Bone injury caused by bruising or minor falls
Trauma that results from a motor vehicle accident, a sports injury, or a hard fall.
Bone stress also termed a stress fracture is caused by over usage of a muscle.
Symptoms of fractures:
- Intense sharp pain at site of injury
- Inability to move injured area
- Bruised
- Deformity
Difference between bone pain and nerve pain
There is not a direct test that will be able to tell what the difference is between muscle, skeletal, or nerve pain. Health pros such as physical therapists have ways to decipher the difference during an assigned exercise or activity.
Nerve – burning or stinging sensation that could be isolated or spread to other parts of the body during activity and is usually accompanied by a loss of strength, coordination, or sensation.
Skeletal – pain usually occurs while doing weight bearing activities, sudden movements, or sustained inactivity and can be sharp, dull, pressure, or throbbing. If it is a fracture, pain is typically sharp, while it may be dull and achy should it be a bruise on the bone. Pain could be caused by disorders of bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, bursae, or a combination.
Muscle – sharp, tear or pulling sensation which occurs throughout the range of motion or during the transition from inactivity to activity. Muscle trauma usually results in impaired function, weakness, instability, or loss of coordination.
Muscle injuries are most common in athletes or those involved in high demand sporting activities. However, they could happen as a direct result from a fall, or an external force such as a tackle or a vehicle accident.
Muscle injury symptoms:
- Stinging pain that may become duller over time
- Soreness
- Swelling or inflammation
- Redness
- Impaired movement at site of injury
Muscle injuries are usually determined by physical exam and may require imaging tests such as an ultrasound or an MRI. Treatment involves cold or heat therapy, physical therapy, exercise, and light stretches (if tolerable), as well as over-the-counter pain relievers and plenty of rest.
Fibromyalgia is a type of muscle pain that causes widespread intense pain across the body, affecting sleep habits, which could and does cause mental as well as emotional distress.
Tendon and ligament pain is often less intense than bone pain and is worse when the affected tendon or ligament is stretched or moved, usually relieved by rest.
Bursae pain can be caused by trauma, overuse, gout, or infection. Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs that provide a protective cushion around joints. Usually, pain is worse with movement involving the bursa and is relieved by rest.
Joint pain (called arthralgia) may or may not be related to joint inflammation (called arthritis). Arthritis may cause swelling as well as pain. A wide variety of disorders can cause arthritis, including inflammatory arthritis (such as rheumatoid arthritis), osteoarthritis, infectious arthritis, gout and related disorders, autoimmune disorders and vasculitis disorders, osteonecrosis , and injuries affecting the part of a bone inside a joint.
Arthritic pain can be new (acute, for example, when caused by infections, injuries, or gout), or longstanding (chronic, for example, when caused by rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis). Pain resulting from arthritis is typically worse when the joint is moved but usually is present even when the joint is not being moved. Sometimes pain originating in structures near the joint, such as ligaments, tendons, and bursae, seems to be coming from the joint.
Some musculoskeletal disorders cause pain by compressing nerves. These conditions include the tunnel syndromes (for example, carpal tunnel syndrome, cubital tunnel syndrome, and tarsal tunnel syndrome). The pain tends to radiate along the path supplied by the nerve and may be burning. It is usually accompanied by tingling, numbness, or both.
Sometimes, pain that seems to be musculoskeletal is caused by a disorder in another organ system. For example, shoulder pain may be caused by a disorder affecting the lungs, spleen, or gallbladder. Back pain may be caused by a kidney stone, abdominal aortic aneurysm, inflammation of the pancreas, or, in women, pelvic disorders. Arm pain may be caused by a heart attack (myocardial infarction).
Again, please remember to always consult a physician or health care provider before determining your source of pain or course of action.