• Home
  • About
    • Our Philosophy
    • Opening hours
    • Our Donation Promise
    • Referral rewards
    • Our health partners
  • Locations
    • Doubleview
    • East Perth
  • Services
    • Physiotherapy
    • Posture Correction
    • Massage
    • Mastitis treatment
    • Gym based rehabilitation
  • Team
  • FAQ
  • Articles
  • Book Online
  • Contact
  • Blog
The Physio Nook
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Philosophy
    • Opening hours
    • Our Donation Promise
    • Referral rewards
    • Our health partners
  • Locations
    • Doubleview
    • East Perth
  • Services
    • Physiotherapy
    • Posture Correction
    • Massage
    • Mastitis treatment
    • Gym based rehabilitation
  • Team
  • FAQ
  • Articles
  • Book Online
  • Contact
  • Blog

Understanding referred pain

28/1/2021

0 Comments

 
Referred pain is one of the most complicated processes in the human body. You may have experienced this if you ever saw a physiotherapist for pain in one part of your body, and they started to treat an entirely different area.  The complexity of pain is one of the reason's why physiotherapists conduct such a thorough interview with you and physical examination before being able to determine the exact source of your pain.
sciatica and referred pain
Why is pain so complicated?
 
Unfortunately, we still don't understand everything about the way pain is processed.  Usually, when an injury or damage occurs to body tissues, a signal is sent to the brain, which begins to interpret this signal and creates the sensation of pain. Pain is thought to be a warning signal to let you know to avoid danger and pay attention to the injured body part. Occasionally this system goes a little haywire, and pain signals are sent when there is no damage or the location of the pain is misdirected.
 
Referred pain is the term used when pain is felt at a different location to the source of the problem that is sending the pain signal. There are many kinds of referred pain, and some are easier to explain than others.
 
What are the different types of referred pain?
 
In some cases, if it is a nerve that is sending the pain signal, then pain can be felt all along the length of the nerve. This may be described as a sharp burning pain along the skin. One of the most common examples of this is "sciatica", where the large nerve that runs down the back of the leg is irritated around the lower back or buttock. The source of the pain signal is near the spine. However, that pain follows a distinctive pattern down the leg. In other cases, it is the muscles and not the nerves that are referring pain elsewhere. Muscular trigger points are taut bands that develop within muscle tissue that is undergoing abnormal stress. Poor posture, lack of movement, and overuse can cause muscles to develop areas of dysfunction. These trigger points can cause pain that radiates out in distinctive patterns. Trigger points are diagnosed as the source of pain if symptoms are reproduced when a therapist presses on a specific point.
 
If that wasn't confusing enough, we know that our internal organs can also refer pain.  Pain referred by internal organs may be described as a deep ache, and usually not influenced by movements of the limbs or back. Organs often distribute pain in patterns that are very obscure and sometimes don't even create any pain at their own  location. For example, kidney pain can feel like lower back pain. 
 
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, talk to your physiotherapist who can help with any questions. None of the information in this article is a replacement for proper medical advice. Always see a medical professional for advice on your individual injury. 
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Categories

    All
    Achilles Pain
    ACL Tear
    Ankle Pain
    Anxiety
    Back Pain
    Balance
    Bone Health
    Bursitis
    Computer Setup
    Dislocations
    Elbow Pain
    Fatigue
    Fibromyalgia
    Fitness
    Groin Pain
    Headaches
    Healing
    Health
    Heel Pain
    Hip Pain
    Instability
    Knee Pain
    Muscle Pain
    Neck Pain
    Osteoarthritis
    Osteoporosis
    Physio Treatment
    Plantar Fasciitis
    Referred Pain
    Running
    Sciatica
    Shin Splints
    Shoulder Pain
    Spinal Stenosis
    Sprains
    Stretching
    Trigger Points
    Work From Home
    Wrist Pain

Doubleview clinic
197A Scarborough Beach Road
Doubleview WA 6018
P: 08 9446 7017
E: doubleview@thephysionook.com.au
East Perth clinic
129 Royal Street
East Perth WA 6004
P: 08 9221 9655
E: eastperth@thephysionook.com.au
Book your consultation
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Philosophy
    • Opening hours
    • Our Donation Promise
    • Referral rewards
    • Our health partners
  • Locations
    • Doubleview
    • East Perth
  • Services
    • Physiotherapy
    • Posture Correction
    • Massage
    • Mastitis treatment
    • Gym based rehabilitation
  • Team
  • FAQ
  • Articles
  • Book Online
  • Contact
  • Blog