Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTypesDiagnosisTreatmentReducing Your Risk
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Types
Diagnosis
Treatment
Reducing Your Risk
Musculoskeletalpain can affectbones,joints,ligaments,tendons, andmuscles. To best treat your pain, it’s crucial to determine which structures are being affected. While injuries are the most common cause of musculoskeletal pain, it can also occur with other medical conditions or diseases.
This article discusses musculoskeletal pain, its potential causes, and treatment options.
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What Does Musculoskeletal Pain Feel Like?
Musculoskeletal conditions can affect various body parts and systems, such as thenervous system. For example, if your spine is injured, it can put pressure on nerves that run from your spine to your arms and legs. When this happens, you might experience symptoms such as tingling or numbness.
What Causes Musculoskeletal Pain?
Injuries to the bones, ligaments, tendons, or muscles often cause musculoskeletal pain. However, there are also non-musculoskeletal contributors to pain.
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Examples of traumatic musculoskeletal disorders include:
Repetitive use disordersfrequently affect people who participate in sports activities or have jobs that require repeated movements or awkward positions.
Common work-related factors that can contribute to musculoskeletal pain include:
Non-Musculoskeletal Contributors to Pain
Musculoskeletal pain can develop from other conditions not related to trauma or overuse.
Examples include:
Types of Musculoskeletal Pain
Pain affecting the musculoskeletal system can vary based on the underlying cause and the affected structures.
Bone Pain
Traumatic injuries are the most common cause of bone pain. However, it can also occur with conditions such as infections or cancer. This type of pain is often described as penetrating, dull, and deep.
Muscle Pain (Myalgia)
Muscle pain—ormyalgia—is often described as cramps or spasms. Muscle pain frequently occurs from injury but can also develop from infection, overuse, some drugs, or tumors.
Tendon and Ligament Pain
Joint Pain
Joint pain—also calledarthralgia—has many different causes. Joint pain can be acute (short-lasting) or chronic (lasting more than 12 weeks).
Back Pain
Back painis very common. Low-back pain is the leading cause of disability globally.
Back pain can feel dull and achy or be sharp. Back pain can also lead toradiculopathy—pinched nerves—causing numbness or a feeling of an electrical shock in the arms or legs, depending on the location of the injury.
Nerve Compression Pain
Nerve compression pain occurs when a nerve is pinched at the root, where it exits the spine (radiculopathy), or anywhere the nerves travel through the arms or legs—known as nerve entrapment.
In addition to pain, nerve compression can cause tingling/electrical shock, decreased sensation in the affected area, or numbness—a condition called peripheral neuropathy.
Chest Pain
Chest painisn’t always a sign of aheart attack; the musculoskeletal system can also cause it.
Common musculoskeletal causes of chest pain include:
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgiais a condition that causes pain throughout the body—most commonly in the ligaments and tendons.It does not affect bones or muscles. The exact cause of this condition is unknown.
Pain from fibromyalgia can come and go or last all day. It can feel like aching, soreness, stiffness, gnawing, or burning pain.
How to Tell if Chest Pain is Muscular
Diagnosis of Musculoskeletal Pain
Diagnosis also commonly includes imaging, such as:
When Chest Pain Is an EmergencyAn accurate, timely diagnosis of chest pain’s cause can be the difference between life and death. Seek immediate medical attention if you have the following symptoms:Cold, clammy skinDizziness/light-headednessFeelings of dull or stabbing pain in the center of the chestNausea/vomitingPain that radiates down the arms or up into the neck/jawRacing or irregular heartbeatShortness of breathWeakness
When Chest Pain Is an Emergency
An accurate, timely diagnosis of chest pain’s cause can be the difference between life and death. Seek immediate medical attention if you have the following symptoms:Cold, clammy skinDizziness/light-headednessFeelings of dull or stabbing pain in the center of the chestNausea/vomitingPain that radiates down the arms or up into the neck/jawRacing or irregular heartbeatShortness of breathWeakness
An accurate, timely diagnosis of chest pain’s cause can be the difference between life and death. Seek immediate medical attention if you have the following symptoms:
Treatment Options for Musculoskeletal Pain
There are a variety of treatment options available for musculoskeletal pain.
Hands-On Therapy
Hands-on therapy is a standard treatment for musculoskeletal conditions. Several types of health professionals can help relieve symptoms, such asphysical therapists,massage therapists, andchiropractors.
Examples of hands-on therapy interventions include massage, stretching, and joint manipulation. In addition, physical therapists can provide exercises and othermodalitiesto reduce pain and help prevent injury recurrence.
Complementary Therapies
Complementary therapies can also be helpful for treating musculoskeletal conditions. Examples include:
Medications
Many people with musculoskeletal pain rely on over-the-counter (OTC)nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDs) for treatment. Examples includeAleve(naproxen),Advilor Motrin (ibuprofen), andBayer(aspirin).Tylenol(acetaminophen) can also help reduce pain.If you experience pain that does not improve with OTC pain relievers, talk to a healthcare provider aboutprescription-strength NSAIDs.
Additional medication treatment options includetopical pain-relieving creams—such asAspercremeor Biofreeze—and cortisone injections.
Aids and Devices
Musculoskeletal disorders can make everyday life more difficult. Consider using adaptive aids (also called adaptive equipment) to help with tasks such as getting dressed and cooking. Anoccupational therapistcan assist you in determining which aids might be appropriate for your specific condition.
Assistive deviceslike a walker or cane may help improve mobility. A physical therapist can help you determine which device is appropriate and how to use it safely.
Surgery
When conservative treatment fails, musculoskeletal conditions might require surgery.
For example, severe osteoarthritis in the knee is frequently treated withjoint replacement surgery. Torn tendons in the shoulder mightrequire rotator cuff repair. Severe broken bones might require anORIF—open reduction internal fixationsurgery.
Lifestyle Modifications and Self-Care Strategies
You can’t always prevent musculoskeletal conditions and injuries, but there are measures you can take to help reduce your risk.
Examples of helpful lifestyle and self-care strategies are:
Summary
Musculoskeletal pain is common. It most often occurs from injury or with repetitive tasks. Many healthcare providers order imaging, such as X-rays and MRIs, to help diagnose these conditions. Pain usually improves with conservative treatment, such as medications, hands-on therapy, and activity modifications. In severe cases, surgery is required.
Seeking medical attention early on can help increase your chances of improvement with conservative treatment.
17 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.SRM Institutes of Medical Science.Musculoskeletal disorders.World Health Organization.Musculoskeletal health.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders & ergonomics.National Library of Medicine.Selected health conditions and likelihood of improvement with treatment.Jin Q, Chang Y, Lu C, Chen L, Wang Y.Referred pain: characteristics, possible mechanisms, and clinical management.Front Neurol. 2023;14:1104817. doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1104817.MedlinePlus.Bone pain or tenderness.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Myalgia.MSD Manual.Causes of musculoskeletal pain.World Health Organization.Low back pain.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Peripheral neuropathy.PM&R KnowledgeNOW.Chest wall pain syndrome.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fibromyalgia.MSD Manual.Tests for musculoskeletal disorders.Harvard Health Publishing.When chest pain strikes: what to expect at the emergency room.Chys M, De Meulemeester K, De Greef I, et al.Clinical effectiveness of dry needling in patients with musculoskeletal pain—an umbrella review.J Clin Med. 2023;12(3):1205. doi:10.3390%2Fjcm12031205Pugazhendi S, Rajamani P, Daniel AS, Pugazhendi K.Non-invasive complementary therapies in managing musculoskeletal pains and in preventing surgery.Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2020;13(2):9-18.UCLA Ergonomics.Preventing musculoskeletal disorders and repetitive strain injuries.
17 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.SRM Institutes of Medical Science.Musculoskeletal disorders.World Health Organization.Musculoskeletal health.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders & ergonomics.National Library of Medicine.Selected health conditions and likelihood of improvement with treatment.Jin Q, Chang Y, Lu C, Chen L, Wang Y.Referred pain: characteristics, possible mechanisms, and clinical management.Front Neurol. 2023;14:1104817. doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1104817.MedlinePlus.Bone pain or tenderness.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Myalgia.MSD Manual.Causes of musculoskeletal pain.World Health Organization.Low back pain.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Peripheral neuropathy.PM&R KnowledgeNOW.Chest wall pain syndrome.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fibromyalgia.MSD Manual.Tests for musculoskeletal disorders.Harvard Health Publishing.When chest pain strikes: what to expect at the emergency room.Chys M, De Meulemeester K, De Greef I, et al.Clinical effectiveness of dry needling in patients with musculoskeletal pain—an umbrella review.J Clin Med. 2023;12(3):1205. doi:10.3390%2Fjcm12031205Pugazhendi S, Rajamani P, Daniel AS, Pugazhendi K.Non-invasive complementary therapies in managing musculoskeletal pains and in preventing surgery.Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2020;13(2):9-18.UCLA Ergonomics.Preventing musculoskeletal disorders and repetitive strain injuries.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
SRM Institutes of Medical Science.Musculoskeletal disorders.World Health Organization.Musculoskeletal health.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders & ergonomics.National Library of Medicine.Selected health conditions and likelihood of improvement with treatment.Jin Q, Chang Y, Lu C, Chen L, Wang Y.Referred pain: characteristics, possible mechanisms, and clinical management.Front Neurol. 2023;14:1104817. doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1104817.MedlinePlus.Bone pain or tenderness.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Myalgia.MSD Manual.Causes of musculoskeletal pain.World Health Organization.Low back pain.National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Peripheral neuropathy.PM&R KnowledgeNOW.Chest wall pain syndrome.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fibromyalgia.MSD Manual.Tests for musculoskeletal disorders.Harvard Health Publishing.When chest pain strikes: what to expect at the emergency room.Chys M, De Meulemeester K, De Greef I, et al.Clinical effectiveness of dry needling in patients with musculoskeletal pain—an umbrella review.J Clin Med. 2023;12(3):1205. doi:10.3390%2Fjcm12031205Pugazhendi S, Rajamani P, Daniel AS, Pugazhendi K.Non-invasive complementary therapies in managing musculoskeletal pains and in preventing surgery.Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2020;13(2):9-18.UCLA Ergonomics.Preventing musculoskeletal disorders and repetitive strain injuries.
SRM Institutes of Medical Science.Musculoskeletal disorders.
World Health Organization.Musculoskeletal health.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Work-related musculoskeletal disorders & ergonomics.
National Library of Medicine.Selected health conditions and likelihood of improvement with treatment.
Jin Q, Chang Y, Lu C, Chen L, Wang Y.Referred pain: characteristics, possible mechanisms, and clinical management.Front Neurol. 2023;14:1104817. doi:10.3389/fneur.2023.1104817.
MedlinePlus.Bone pain or tenderness.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Myalgia.
MSD Manual.Causes of musculoskeletal pain.
World Health Organization.Low back pain.
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.Peripheral neuropathy.
PM&R KnowledgeNOW.Chest wall pain syndrome.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Fibromyalgia.
MSD Manual.Tests for musculoskeletal disorders.
Harvard Health Publishing.When chest pain strikes: what to expect at the emergency room.
Chys M, De Meulemeester K, De Greef I, et al.Clinical effectiveness of dry needling in patients with musculoskeletal pain—an umbrella review.J Clin Med. 2023;12(3):1205. doi:10.3390%2Fjcm12031205
Pugazhendi S, Rajamani P, Daniel AS, Pugazhendi K.Non-invasive complementary therapies in managing musculoskeletal pains and in preventing surgery.Int J Ther Massage Bodywork. 2020;13(2):9-18.
UCLA Ergonomics.Preventing musculoskeletal disorders and repetitive strain injuries.
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