Pain can disrupt your sleep, limit your movement, and leave you feeling anxious about what might be wrong. If you are dealing with chest pain, back discomfort, or joint aches, one of the most important questions you can ask is this: Is my pain inflammatory or mechanical? The answer matters. Inflammatory pain and mechanical pain have different causes, patterns, and treatments. If you recognise the signs early, you can take the right steps to manage your symptoms and avoid unne