According to the Mail Online Health, there is a simple way to check whether your aches and pains are a simple muscle sprain or something worse.

If you find heat helps you then put a hot water bottle onto the area where the pain is and if the pain eases with the heat, that suggests its muscle tension rather than an injury.

Heat, apparently, helps to relax muscles. Make a note of your pain on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the worst pain) just before you apply a hot water bottle (or something similar) and then write down your pain after you have had the heat on your injury for a short while.

If the pain has reduced greatly then it could be muscle tension. If the pain hasn’t altered or the pain comes back again very quickly then make an appointment to see your GP.

Some people prefer ice for pain so you can do exactly the same for the above. Always remember that this is just for a simple pain that could be niggling you and not suitable for anything bigger (pain wise).

Source Mail Online Health