Where is your pain really coming from?

Have you ever been to see a physiotherapist for pain in one part of your body and when they treated you, they focused on a completely different area? While this can be a strange experience, it can be even more puzzling when the treatment actually works. So what is going on, shouldn’t pain be treated where it is being felt?

When pain is felt at a different location from where the pain is being caused, this is called ‘referred pain’ and is actually more common than you think. Exactly why this happens is a little complicated, and in fact, we don’t yet understand everything about the way that pain is processed. 

Pain is usually felt when something causes damage to the body, sending an electrical impulse to the brain. The brain receives this information and process it to make sense of which part of the body the signal is coming from and what kind of pain it is. When the brain thinks that the pain is coming from a different area than where the damage or signal is actually coming from, this creates the phenomenon of referred pain.

Sometimes referred pain is easy to explain, such as when a nerve becomes injured or irritated, causing the pain to be felt along the length of the nerve. This often feels like a sharp, burning pain that runs in a strip, along the skin. Other examples of referred pain are more difficult to explain and in some cases seem to defy explanation. Perhaps you have heard about the strange phenomenon of phantom pain where amputees continue to feel pain as though it was in the place where their limbs used to be. 

Muscular trigger points can also cause referred pain. The mechanism behind this is a bit trickier to understand, but is thought to be explained by tight bands of muscle tissues that cause pain to be felt in predictable patterns around the body. 

Adding to this, we know that other tissues of the body can cause pain to be felt in a different location, including discs of the spine and internal organs. Many times the internal organs can refer to pain in peculiar patterns and this can actually lead to serious illnesses being mistaken for muscular aches and pains. Kidney pain can be felt in the lower back and tragically, some people fail to recognize that they are having a heart attack because they feel pain in their neck and arm, not in their chest. 

We also know that not understanding or being afraid of pain can make pain feel stronger. In rare cases, people who have pain in one hand can feel pain just by seeing their other hand moving in a mirror. There are many other fascinating aspects to pain, and understanding how it works is an important part of managing your symptoms.  

To understand how referred pain may be affecting you, chat to your physiotherapist who can help with any questions. None of the information in this newsletter is a replacement for proper medical advice. Always see a medical professional for advice on your individual condition. 

Shortened version:

Referred pain is a common phenomenon where pain is felt in one part of the body, while the actual source of the pain is elsewhere. This occurs because the brain can misinterpret signals from damaged or irritated tissues. For instance, when a nerve is injured or irritated, it can send pain signals along its pathway, resulting in pain being felt in areas distant from the actual problem. Muscular trigger points, characterized by tight bands of muscle tissue, can also cause referred pain in predictable patterns throughout the body.

Moreover, internal organs can contribute to referred pain. For example, kidney pain can manifest as lower back pain, while heart attacks may be accompanied by pain in the neck and arm rather than the chest. This can lead to serious conditions being mistaken for muscular discomfort.

Understanding referred pain is crucial for accurate diagnosis and effective management of symptoms. Consulting with a physiotherapist can provide insights into how referred pain may be affecting you and help address any questions or concerns. However, it’s important to remember that this information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek guidance from a healthcare professional for personalized recommendations and treatment options tailored to your specific condition.

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