What Is Musculoskeletal Pain?
Musculoskeletal pain originates in the structures that support and move your body — including muscles, bones, joints, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and bursae. Unlike neuropathic pain, which results from nerve damage, musculoskeletal pain typically arises from tissue injury, inflammation, repetitive strain, degenerative changes, or structural abnormalities. The pain may be acute (developing suddenly after an injury) or chronic (persisting for weeks, months, or longer). It can be localized to a single joint or region, or it can be diffuse and widespread.
Patients often describe musculoskeletal pain as aching, stiff, throbbing, or sharp. It is frequently aggravated by movement, certain postures, or physical activity, and may improve with rest — although prolonged inactivity can actually worsen many musculoskeletal conditions over time.
Common Musculoskeletal Conditions
Coastal Spine & Pain evaluates and treats a broad range of musculoskeletal pain conditions, including:
Osteoarthritis
The most common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis occurs when the protective cartilage that cushions the ends of bones gradually wears down over time. It most frequently affects the knees, hips, hands, and spine, and is characterized by pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced range of motion. Risk factors include age, prior joint injury, obesity, and repetitive occupational stress.
Bursitis
Bursae are small, fluid-filled sacs that act as cushions between bones and soft tissues near joints. When a bursa becomes inflamed — from overuse, trauma, infection, or underlying conditions such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis — the result is localized pain, tenderness, and swelling. Common sites include the shoulder, hip, elbow, and knee.
Tendinitis & Tendinopathy
Tendons are the tough, fibrous cords that attach muscles to bones. Tendinitis refers to acute inflammation of a tendon, often from repetitive motion or sudden overload. Tendinopathy is a broader term that includes chronic tendon degeneration. Common examples include rotator cuff tendinitis, lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow), Achilles tendinitis, and patellar tendinitis.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
This condition involves chronic pain in the muscles and the surrounding connective tissue (fascia). It is characterized by the presence of trigger points — hyperirritable spots within taut bands of skeletal muscle that produce local and referred pain when compressed. Myofascial pain can develop after repetitive muscle use, trauma, stress, or prolonged poor posture, and it is a common contributor to chronic neck, shoulder, and back pain.
Joint Pain (Arthralgia)
Joint pain without significant inflammation can result from a variety of causes, including degenerative changes, ligament sprains, cartilage injuries (such as meniscal tears), and overuse. Coastal Spine & Pain offers both diagnostic and therapeutic joint injections to help identify and treat the source of pain.
Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Dysfunction
The sacroiliac joints connect the lower spine (sacrum) to the pelvis. When these joints become inflamed or dysfunctional — from injury, pregnancy, arthritis, or abnormal movement patterns — patients may experience low back pain, buttock pain, or pain radiating into the hip or upper leg. SI joint dysfunction is commonly underdiagnosed and is an important consideration in the evaluation of chronic low back pain.
Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and cognitive difficulties (often referred to as “fibro fog”). While the exact cause is not fully understood, it is believed to involve abnormal pain processing in the central nervous system. Treatment typically involves a multidisciplinary approach including medication management, physical activity, sleep hygiene, and stress reduction strategies.
How Is Musculoskeletal Pain Diagnosed?
Accurate diagnosis is the foundation of effective treatment. At Coastal Spine & Pain, our evaluation process includes a thorough medical history and physical examination, with particular attention to the location, quality, duration, and aggravating factors of your pain. Depending on your presentation, additional diagnostic studies may include imaging (X-ray, MRI, or ultrasound), laboratory studies to assess for inflammatory or autoimmune conditions, or diagnostic injections to confirm or exclude a suspected pain generator.
Diagnostic injections are a particularly valuable tool in interventional pain management. By injecting a local anesthetic into a specific structure — such as a joint, bursa, or muscle — and monitoring your pain response, we can confirm or rule out that structure as a contributing source of pain. This information guides the development of a targeted treatment plan.
Treatment Options
Coastal Spine & Pain offers a range of interventional and conservative treatment options for musculoskeletal pain, including:
Joint Injections
Corticosteroid or hyaluronic acid injections into affected joints can reduce inflammation, improve mobility, and provide meaningful pain relief. These injections may be performed in the office under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance for precision.
Trigger Point Injections
For patients with myofascial pain syndrome, trigger point injections deliver a local anesthetic (and sometimes a corticosteroid) directly into the trigger point, relieving the taut band and associated referred pain.
Bursa Injections
Anti-inflammatory medication injected directly into an inflamed bursa can provide rapid relief from bursitis-related pain and swelling.
Sacroiliac Joint Injections
Diagnostic and therapeutic injections into the SI joint can help confirm the diagnosis and provide relief. Patients who respond well may be candidates for radiofrequency ablation of the nerves supplying the SI joint for longer-lasting results.
Regenerative Medicine Considerations
Emerging therapies such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and other regenerative approaches are being studied for certain musculoskeletal conditions. We stay current on the evidence and can discuss whether these options may be appropriate for your situation.
Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation
We frequently coordinate with physical therapists to develop individualized exercise and rehabilitation programs that strengthen the supporting musculature, improve flexibility, and reduce the risk of recurrence.
Medication Management
When appropriate, medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, or other agents may be incorporated as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
When to Seek Care
You should consider seeing an interventional pain management specialist if your musculoskeletal pain persists beyond a few weeks despite rest and over-the-counter treatments, if it limits your ability to perform daily activities or work, if it wakes you from sleep, or if it is accompanied by swelling, redness, warmth, or weakness. Early evaluation and treatment can help prevent acute conditions from becoming chronic and difficult to manage.