When it comes to pain, the common assumption is that wherever the pain is coming from, that’s where the issue causing it can be found. While this is true a large percentage of the time, there are also times when issues within your body can cause pain to flare up in areas away from it. This is what’s known as referred pain.
Defining Referred Pain
Referred pain is properly described as pain perceived at a location other than the site of the painful stimulus/origin. The pain itself is the result of a network of interconnecting sensory nerves that have been set off via the actual pain source. The nerve network supplies many different areas of tissues, which is what causes the carryover to other areas.
For example, when there is an injury or problem at one location in the nerve network, the pain radiates to other associated nerves, and thus gives the brain the feeling of pain in those other areas away from the source. While the pain felt my still be in the general area of the pain source, sometimes the pain can be felt in areas that may seem completely unrelated.
One very well known example of this is the pain felt during a heart attack. Although the heart is where the issue is centered, those experiencing cardiac events will often feel pain in their left shoulder and upper arm. This is due to the nerve network connected to the heart.
A less dire example of referred pain is the feeling you get when consuming a cold food or drink too quickly. Often referred to as a “brainfreeze”, this effect is triggered by nerves in the roof of your mouth touching the cold food or drink, which then causes rapid swelling and constriction of blood vessels around your head.
While referred pain does have a core definition, it still remains somewhat elusive to medical professionals, who have developed several different theories as to how referred pain works in certain parts of the body.
Common Examples of Referred Pain
Lung and Diaphragm
Problems with the lungs or diaphragm can sometimes trigger referred pain on the side of the neck, or upper shoulder area. This pain can stem from breathing problems or a certain nerve that runs from the spine and to the diaphragm. If left unaddressed, these source problems can spread throughout the upper body.
Liver and Gallbladder
Issues that occur within the liver or gallbladder can also cause pain in the neck or upper shoulder areas, and also the front of the body in the right chest area.
This referred pain is sometimes similar to the diaphragm area, since the liver and gallbladder are in close contact to the diaphragm. Stiffness or soreness in the neck can sometimes be ignored or dismissed at first, and later be revealed to be the result of problems with the liver or gallbladder when the pain worsens.
Stomach and Pancreas
Referred pain emanating from the middle front or center back of the body may indicate a serious problem with the stomach or pancreas.
In fact, according to Physio-pedia.com, “approximately 50% of patients with acute pancreatitis experience radiating pain in the back,” along with “abdominal tenderness, typically in the upper quadrants.”
Kidney
Issues within the kidney can often result in pain in the lower back, abdomen, pelvis, and even upper portions of the legs.
Those who are experiencing acute pain within these areas should see a doctor as soon as possible.
