When parts of your body feel sore, stiff, or ache, this is called musculoskeletal pain. You may feel it in your arms, legs, torso, or neck. This pain can be in your muscles or bones. It can also be in the tissues that connect them. These are your ligaments, tendons, and fascia.
You may have:
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Dull, aching pain
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Sharp pain
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Stiff feeling
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Trouble moving like normal
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Swelling
Common causes of this type of pain include:
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Arthritis, tendinitis, and other joint and muscle conditions
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Lifting heavy objects
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The way you sit or stand (posture)
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The way you sleep
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A fall or other injury
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Overuse and daily strain
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Bulging disc or other back problem
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Exercise and sports
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Stress
Home care
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Plan to rest at home as needed.
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Use cold and heat therapy to soothe pain and reduce swelling (see below).
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Use pain medicines as instructed (see below).
Cold and heat therapy
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Wrap a cold pack or baggy of ice in a thin towel or cloth. This is to protect your skin. Put it on the area that hurts. Leave it in place for 10 minutes. Remove for 10 minutes. Repeat as needed.
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Then switch to heat. Heat from a hot shower, hot bath, or heating pad can reduce pain and ease muscles. If you use a heating pad, put it on the area that hurts for 20 minutes. Remove it for 20 minutes. Do this as needed several times a day. Don't use a heating pad while sleeping. It can burn your skin.
Medicine for pain
You can use over-the-counter medicines to control pain. These include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Ask your doctor what pain medicines are safe for you. You may be told not to take some medicines if you have diabetes, liver or kidney disease, or stomach ulcers. Tell your doctor if you take blood-thinner medicine.
Don’t take more than 4,000 mg of acetaminophen in 24 hours. It can harm your liver. Check medicine labels to see how much they contain.
Your doctor may prescribe pain medicine. Take this exactly as directed. Don’t drive or use machines. Pain medicine can make you sleepy and slow your movement.
Other treatments
Ask your doctor what treatments may help treat your pain. You may feel better with medicine, physical therapy, massage, stretching, TENS, wraps, or other methods. This depends on what caused your pain.
Follow-up care
Follow up with your doctor as advised. You may need more tests if your symptoms do not improve or get worse.
When to get medical advice
Call your doctor or get medical care right away if any of these occur:
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Fingers or toes become swollen, cold, blue, numb, or tingly
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Weakness in an arm or leg
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Pain that gets worse
Date Last Reviewed: 02/01/2025
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