“Pain is pain… right?”

That’s what many of my patients think until we start talking about what kind of pain they’re feeling.

This is when my patients look confused.

In my rheumatology practice, my job is to figure out where the pain is coming from and what is causing it. That’s because nerve pain, muscle pain, bone pain, and joint pain are all treated differently.

Understanding the difference is the first step toward feeling better.

Why Pain Descriptions Matter

Saying “my hand hurts” is a start, but it’s not enough. I need more details:

• Location: Is it one spot or all over?

• Quality: Sharp, burning, or throbbing?

• Pattern: Constant, or does it come and go

The pain in the hands could be the numbness and tingling of carpal tunnel or the dull achy pain of arthritis. NSAIDs like ibuprofen will usually help with arthritis pain but not carpal tunnel pain.

Clear details are like clues that help pinpoint the cause.

For brevity of the blog, I have narrowed the different pain down to 6 common types of pain:

1. Nerve Pain

• Feels like: burning, numbness, tingling, shooting, “electric shock”

• Where: can radiate or follow a path (like down an arm or leg)

• Examples: sciatica, carpal tunnel, nerve damage (neuropathy)

Nerve pain often comes from irritation or damage to a nerve. It can be sharp and sudden or constant and buzzing.

2. Muscle Pain

• Feels like: sore, crampy, achy, worse with movement

• Where: larger areas like thighs, arms, or back

• Examples: overuse, injury, charley horse

This is the post-workout ache you might recognize, but it can also be the pulling sensation in your calf that wakes you up at night. 

3. Tendon Pain

• Feels like: sharp or aching at a specific spot, worse with stretching or movement

• Where: near joints such as elbows, shoulders, knees, heels

• Examples: tendinitis (tennis elbow), plantar fasciitis

Tendons connect muscle to bone. Overuse or strain can make them sore and stubborn to heal. 

4. Joint Pain

• Feels like: achy, stiff, sometimes swollen or warm; often worse in the morning but may improve with movement

• Where: knees, hips, fingers, wrists, shoulders

• Examples: arthritis, autoimmune disease, injury

Joint pain can be mechanical (wear and tear) or inflammatory, and treatment differs depending on the cause.

5. Fibromyalgia Pain

• Feels like: widespread ache, tender spots, pain with hugs, fatigue, sometimes “brain fog”

• Where: all over the body

• Examples: fibromyalgia, chronic pain syndrome

Fibromyalgia affects how the nervous system processes pain, making even light touch or mild pressure feel uncomfortable.

6. Bone Pain

• Feels like: deep, dull, throbbing, hard to pinpoint

• Where: deep inside; may not feel like it’s in a joint or muscle

• Examples: fractures, certain infections affecting the bone

Bone pain often signals something more serious and should always be evaluated.

Tips for Describing Your Pain

Locate it: Point to the exact spot or area.

Describe it: Is it sharp, dull, burning, or throbbing?

Track timing: Does it flare with activity or rest?

Note what helps: Does heat, cold, or medication ease it?

These simple descriptions can help your doctor assess your pain better. 

The Bottom Line

Pain is your body’s alarm system but alarms can ring for many different reasons. By learning to describe your pain in more detail, you give your doctor the clues they need to solve the mystery faster and get you the right treatment.

Have you ever struggled to explain your pain? Share the words you’ve used. They might help someone else describe their pain and find the correct diagnosis.