Nerve Pain vs Muscle Pain: What Is the Difference?

Some of the symptoms of muscle pain (myalgia) or those that often occur alongside it include the following:

• Dizziness
• Fever
• Redness
• Stiffness and weakness
• Swelling
• Tenderness in a single area

Muscle pain can either be limited to a single area or diffusely located throughout the body. If it is limited to a single area, it is usually caused by an injury, strain, stress, or tension. On the other hand, if it occurs throughout the body, it is more likely to be caused by an infection, medication, or underlying illness.

The symptoms of nerve pain are relatively broad in terms of the sensations that can occur along with it, including burning, prickling, or tingling feelings throughout the day. In some cases, nerve damage can cause a complete loss of sensation or numbness in a particular area. Other symptoms that can occur with nerve pain include the following:

• Bladder, bowel, or digestive issues
• Burning, jabbing, sharp, or throbbing pain
• Dizziness or light-headedness, caused by changes in blood pressure
• Dulled sense of touch or extreme sensitivity to the touch
• Excessive sweating or inability to sweat
• Gradual development of numbness, prickling, or tingling
• Heat intolerance
• Loss of balance or coordination
• Muscle weakness
• Unnoticed injuries

Since nerves are located throughout the body, nerve pain can be experienced in virtually every part of your body, such as your legs, arms, feet, hands, back, and face. Nerve pain occurs whenever there is damage or irritation to one or more nerves. There are numerous potential causes of nerve pain, such as diabetes, shingles and other infections, multiple sclerosis (MS), chemotherapy, trauma, or musculoskeletal issues that lead to pinched nerves.

In general, muscle pain is typically experienced as a kind of aching or stiffness. If it is caused by injury, strain, or tension, it is usually localized to a particular area and hurts when the muscle is in use. In contrast, nerve pain is more often experienced as a sharp, burning, throbbing, or tingling pain that can occur randomly, whether you are at rest or not. With that said, it is not always apparent based on the symptoms you are experiencing, if it is nerve or muscle pain. As such, it is still a good idea to seek medical attention for nerve or muscle pain so that you can receive an accurate diagnosis.

If you live in Allen, TX, or the surrounding area, there are nerve doctors near you! At American Pain and Wellness, our doctors are highly skilled and trained in evaluating, diagnosing, and treating various types of nerve and muscle pain. As such, you will be in good hands here if you are experiencing either! You can find American Pain and Wellness in Allen, TX. Our doors are open to you Monday through Thursday from 8:00am to 5:00pm and Friday from 8:00am to 12:00pm. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 1101 Raintree Circle #240 Allen, Texas 75013. We serve patients from Allen TX, Plano TX, Fairview TX, McKinney TX, Parker TX, Lucas TX, Murphy TX, and surrounding areas. We look forward to serving you!