Musculoskeletal pain affects bones, joints, ligaments, tendons or muscles. An injury like a bone fracture may cause sudden, severe pain. An underlying condition like arthritis may also cause pain. If musculoskeletal pain interferes with your usual activities, see a healthcare provider. The right treatment can help relieve pain.
Musculoskeletal pain is pain that affects any of your:
These tissues make up your musculoskeletal system. You may have localized musculoskeletal pain (in one area of your body) or it may affect most of your body. It can range from mild to severe and be short-term or long-term.
Musculoskeletal pain is very common. It’s the most common form of noncancer pain. Virtually everyone experiences it at least once in their lives — most often from a muscle strain. Chronic (long-term) musculoskeletal conditions (like lower back pain) are also very common.
Musculoskeletal pain may feel different depending on the cause and affected tissue(s):
Musculoskeletal pain can significantly limit your mobility and range of motion. It may also cause:
Musculoskeletal pain can be acute, meaning it’s sudden and severe. Or the pain can be chronic (long-lasting). Acute musculoskeletal pain is temporary. But how long it lasts depends on the cause, severity and the treatment you receive.
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Injuries are the most common cause of musculoskeletal pain, often causing acute (sudden) pain. Certain conditions can cause chronic (long-term) musculoskeletal pain. Injuries that don’t heal properly can lead to chronic pain as well.
Examples of acute musculoskeletal pain causes include injuries like:
These injuries can affect anyone at any age. They’re especially common in athletes and people who do manual labor.
Other non-injury forms of acute musculoskeletal pain include:
Certain conditions can cause long-term musculoskeletal pain. Examples include:
Treatment for musculoskeletal pain largely depends on the:
For mild musculoskeletal pain from a minor injury (like a strained muscle), conservative treatment often helps. This includes rest, over-the-counter pain medicines and cold (ice) therapy.
For more serious or complex causes of musculoskeletal pain, it’s important to see a healthcare provider. They’ll recommend a treatment plan that’s best for you. If you have chronic pain, “management” may be a better word — the cause may be incurable, so the goal is to minimize symptoms.
Some examples of treatments and pain management include:
Your healthcare provider may guide you to manage musculoskeletal pain at home. Recommendations may include:
Without proper treatment, moderate to severe injuries that cause musculoskeletal pain can lead to chronic pain and mobility issues. This can negatively affect your quality of life and may prevent you from working.
Because of this, it’s very important to get medical care for severe and/or persisting pain. The sooner you can start treatment that’s tailored to your situation, the better.
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Maintaining healthy bones, muscles and joints is crucial for preventing musculoskeletal pain. Steps you can take to try to prevent pain include:
If musculoskeletal pain interferes with your daily activities or how well you can function, see a healthcare provider. Seek immediate medical help if you have severe pain from a sudden injury.
Almost everyone has musculoskeletal pain now and then. For temporary, mild pain, at-home remedies can help. But chronic (long-lasting) or severe pain can make it difficult to do the things you love. If you have chronic or severe pain, you don’t have to “tough it out.” Talk to a healthcare provider about therapies that can help.
Last reviewed on 08/15/2024.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy