Hello and Welcome to ‘Ask A Doctor’ service. I have reviewed your query and here is my advice. Location of pain: There is a lot to this. First, if something goes in the pathway of a nerve, then that is the nerve involved. Nerves are long and the pain is in a belt-like long pathway. Smaller areas are smaller nerves. This also tends to say what might be going on. Obviously if there was an injury to the area and then there was pain outward from it hit a nerve would be a possibility. Sick nerves are multiple areas and tend to be the TIPS of the nerve not the whole nerve. What hurts: Moving a particular way that triggers the pain tells what is hurting. Specifically it can distinguish outward structures like skin, muscles, tendons, joints from deep structures like organs and nerves. Having a diagnosis leads to choice of medicine for the pain. Inflamed outer structures respond to treating inflammation. Inner structures need diagnostic tests because something internal is broken. MRI s. And, structures that cannot be fixed need adaptations with Physical therapy, pillows, supportive structures internal and external. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. Matt Wachsman