What are the differences between nerve and muscle pain?

Nerve pain results from damage to the nerves and is often chronic, meaning that it may last for 6 months or more. The causes of nerve pain are varied. Chemical irritation, inflammation, trauma (including surgery), compression of nerves by nearby structures (for instance, tumors), and infections may all lead to nerve pain. In many cases, however, the cause is unknown.  The two most common forms for nerve pain are diabetic nerve pain and pain after shingles.  People often report sensations such as: tingling or pins and needles, burning, numbing, stabbing, or electric shock.  Nerve pain may cause extreme sensitivity to touch.  Simple things such as feeling a shirt against your skin or tying your shoe could cause extreme discomfort.

Muscle pain, otherwise known as musculoskeletal pain, is pain in your muscles or joints generally caused by injury or inflammation (swelling); however, muscle pain can also be caused by diseases, disorders, medications, as a response to a vaccination or withdrawal syndromes.  This pain does not usually last long and disappears when the injury heals.  People with muscle pain report symptoms such as: aching, throbbing, swelling, muscle tenderness or cramping, or stiffness.

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