It’s not always easy to figure out what your body is trying to tell you. After a long workout, a day of yard work, or even just sleeping the wrong way, you might wake up with pain in your knee, shoulder, lower back, or neck that wasn’t there before. But is it just soreness, strain, or a full-on injury?
At OIBortho in New Jersey, our board-certified orthopedic surgeons and specialists help people across Ocean and Monmouth Counties sort through those questions every day.
Knowing whether it’s soreness, a strain, or something more serious gives you the power to take the right next step and avoid making things worse by pushing through the wrong kind of pain.
What Soreness Usually Feels Like
Muscle soreness is a common response to activity your body isn’t used to. It often shows up a day or two later and feels like a dull, tight ache in your muscles. You might feel stiff, but once you get moving, it typically eases up.
Soreness usually doesn’t affect your ability to go about your day, and with rest, stretching, or light movement, it tends to improve within a few days.
Signs You’re Dealing With a Strain
Strains happen when a muscle or tendon gets overstretched or slightly torn. Unlike soreness, a strain is more focused in one area and might feel sharp, especially when you move a certain way. Swelling, tenderness, and limited range of motion can also be signs.
If your discomfort sticks around for more than a few days or gets worse instead of better, you could be dealing with a strain.
How to Tell When It’s a Serious Injury
Injuries go beyond basic soreness or minor strain. They often happen suddenly and may involve a pop, tear, or snap. You might notice significant swelling, bruising, or trouble putting weight on the area. Injuries can affect muscles, joints, bones, or ligaments, and usually don’t get better on their own.
When to Talk With an Orthopedic Specialist
If your pain is intense, lasts more than a few days, or starts interfering with how you move, it’s time to reach out. Ignoring it or trying to push through can lead to bigger problems down the line.
At OIBortho, we offer expert orthopedic care in Toms River, Brick, Red Bank, Edison, and nearby towns in New Jersey. Whether you need physical therapy, pain management options, or surgical treatment for a more serious issue, our team will guide you toward the right plan for your body.
Call 732-800-9000 to schedule a consultation. We’ll help you figure out what’s really going on and what to do next.