Pain and Soreness

Johninch

I would like to know how the nervous system distinguishes between aches, pain and soreness. So far I gather that internal soreness usually indicates inflammation, but if there are no symptoms and there is no dysfunction of the body part (lower arm/elbow), could internal soreness indicate something other than inflammation? Is soreness a different kind of signal to the brain than pain or does it depend on where the signal is coming from?

Also, over a long period, does the nervous system get tired and stop reporting aches and pains or soreness from a particular place? How long does it take to stop hurting when the problem is still present?