Different types of pain?

[skarey]

This may sound silly, but how do you tell the difference between nerve pain, muslce pain, and joint pain?  Obviously I know that like when my ankles, and knees hurt that would be considered joint pain.  But what about when my hands hurt, feet, or shins and etc...?  I'm not really sure what it means to have nerve pain.

This would help when I talk to my dr in describing my types of pain.

Thank you.

[panthergirl55]

That is such a good question! I'm describing "muscle pain" as the fact that I feel bruised all over. Although that is true for my head too, and I don't think I have any muscles on the top of my head?? (maybe I do?)

Right now, my feet hurt. They just HURT. I don't know if it's joint, muscle or nerve pain.

[patsy10]

I have a lot of nerve pain.  I have found that nerve pain does not really respond to antiinflammatory meds  like ibuprofen whereas joint or muscle pain sometimes does.

[JackieCalifornia]

Good question ... when I tell my dr *how* it hurts, I usually try to tie it to *what* it is that hurts:  "My knees hurt" instead of "I have joint pain".  Muscles and tendons and joints all being smack up against each other makes it hard to tell, and people are probably different in how they perceive pain.

When my legs hurt, sometimes it's clearly a calf muscle cramp, sometimes it's a sore knee, sometimes it's shooting pains in a toe, sometimes it's tingling near my ankle.  And those are the descriptions I give:  the location and the sensation.

We all seem to have difficulty explaining the pain and discomfort, which is just part of dealing with this malady.  Take care!  We're with you.