You may have heard the term ‘referred pain’ and wondered what that means, and how referred pain might show up. It’s a common question we hear in our clinics, and it’s an important concept to understand. In this blog, Steve McMullen, osteopath in our Sidmouth clinic, explains how it applies to treating the root cause of a problem to achieve long-term freedom of movement and relief from pain.
What is referred pain?
The term ‘referred pain’ means that pain is experienced in an area other than the place where the source of the pain is located. This happens because we have a network ofo sensory nerves which connect to each other in the spinal cord, and nerve impulses can become ‘confused’. When that happens, pain is felt in parts of the body supplied by the same nerves, although there is no problem there.
One common example is when pain is referred from the sacroiliac joints in the pelvis and the sensation can be mistaken for sciatica. That’s because the leg is supplied by the same nerve that serves these joints, so when the nerve triggers a pain message the brain can misinterpret where that pain is arising. Our osteopaths will take the time needed to investigate the root cause of the pain so that treatment is accurately focused.
Why is it important to recognise referred pain?
Our osteopaths work to correctly diagnose the root cause of pain so that recurrent trips to your GP, or extended treatment programs can be avoided where possible. Taking a detailed case history also helps the osteopath to identify any problem that needs attention from another medical practitioner – for example, sometimes a problem with the kidneys can cause pain which feels as if you have strained your lower back.
Some headaches are caused by pain that’s referred from the neck and shoulders. Our osteopaths are trained to identify and treat this pain, and to refer to a GP where necessary, for further investigation.
What does referred pain feel like?
Referred pain is often felt as a dull ache that’s hard to pinpoint. It can vary in how strongly it’s felt. Usually, pain that is referred from the organs is diffuse. In the case of sciatica, pain radiates often from the buttock down to the back of the leg and can be felt intensely.
How does an osteopath manage referred pain?
Steve says “As an osteopath, I and my colleagues will work to diagnose accurately the root cause of your pain. We can screen to work out where there may be a problem arising from an organ, nerve or a muscle or joint. Where we discover a condition we cannot treat, we will make a referral to your GP, with a letter explaining what we have found. Where the condition is something we can treat, we will explain to you what we have found and discuss a treatment plan.”
Book your osteopathy appointment now
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