01/07/2026
How to tell if your pain is coming from a joint, muscle, or nerve š
While nothing replaces a proper exam, your body usually gives clues about where pain is coming from.
ā”ļøJoint pain
Feels deep, stiff, or ālocked upā
Worse first thing in the morning or after sitting too long
Improves once you start moving
Feels limited or restricted in certain positions
š Think: āIt feels stuck.ā
ā”ļøMuscle pain
Feels sore, tight, achy, or crampy
Tender when you press on it
Worse with specific movements or overuse
Better with rest, heat, or light stretching
š Think: āIt feels worked or strained.ā
ā”ļøNerve pain
Sharp, burning, tingling, or electric
May travel (ex: low back ā leg, neck ā arm)
Can include numbness or weakness
Often worse with certain positions like bending, sitting, or turning your head
š Think: āIt shoots or radiates.ā
Hereās the important part:
Pain is rarely just one thing. Joints, muscles, and nerves all work togetherā¦so when one isnāt moving or functioning well, the others usually compensate.
Thatās why our goal isnāt just to āchase pain,ā but to restore movement, balance, and how your body is working as a whole.