What Is Radiating Pain
Definition. A sensation of discomfort or distress that spreads from one anatomic location to another.
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What is radiating pain feel like?
Radiating pain is pain that travels from one body part to another. It begins in one place then spreads across a bigger area. For example, if you have a herniated disc, you may have pain in your lower back. This pain might travel along the sciatic nerve, which runs down your leg.
- In turn, you’ll also have leg pain due to your herniated disc.
- Radiating pain can have many causes and, in some cases, may indicate a serious underlying condition.
- Read on for potential causes, along with signs you should see a doctor.
- When a body part is damaged or diseased, surrounding nerves send signals to the spinal cord.
These signals travel to the brain, which recognizes pain in the damaged area. However, all the nerves in the body are connected. This means pain signals can spread, or radiate, throughout your body. The pain can move along a nerve’s pathway, causing discomfort in other areas of your body that are supplied by that nerve.
The result is radiating pain. Radiating pain isn’t the same as referred pain. With radiating pain, the pain travels from one part of the body to another. The pain literally moves through the body. With referred pain, the source of pain doesn’t move or get larger. The pain is simply felt in areas other than the source.
An example is jaw pain during a heart attack. A heart attack doesn’t involve the jaw, but the pain can be felt there. Pain can radiate from and to many parts of the body. The pain may come and go, depending on the cause. If you experience radiating pain, pay attention to how it spreads.
What does it mean if pain radiates?
Radiating Pain vs. Referred Pain | Loveland, OH Chiropractor Radiating Pain vs. Referred PainMany patients come to my office with pain that radiates. If you have radiating pain that means that your pain begins in one place and travels to another location along the path of a nerve.
- Radiating pain (aka radicular pain) typically stems from back pain with nerve irritation that causes pain down the leg, or neck pain with nerve pain into the arms and hands.
- Radiating pain follows specific nerves, while referred pain is more general and can occur in many places around an injured tissue.
Whether you have radiating or referred pain, chiropractic care can often help. Adjustments of the spine can help with pain localized around the spine, as well as pain that travels out from the spine. Common causes of radiating pain:
intervertebral disc bulges herniated discs pinched nerves (ex. sciatica) osteophytes (bone spurs) spinal degeneration (arthritis) joint cysts overstretched nerves (burners or stingers)
Common causes of referred pain:
joint inflammation muscular trigger points sprains strains whiplash injuries organ pain (ex. heart pain referred to the left arm)
It is important to first find the origin of pain and follow up with appropriate treatment. If you are interested in a FREE consultation to find out if we can help you, just call 513-444-4529. Dr. Kauffman is a licensed chiropractor in Loveland, OH. He serves patients in Cincinnati and the areas of Mason Ohio, Lebanon Ohio, West Chester Ohio, and Loveland Ohio.
What does radiating symptoms mean?
Summary –
Radiating pain refers to pain that travels from one part of your body to another. It is often the first sign of a more serious medical issue. There is a difference between radiating and referred pain. There are many causes of radiating pain, all of which are located either in the legs, back, chest, ribs, or arms. You should see a doctor if the pain becomes more severe, lasts longer than a week, came after an injury or accident, or if you have difficulty controlling your bladder or bowels. Treatment of radiating pain includes anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, injections, and surgical evaluation.
If you’ve ever experienced radiating pain, you’ve probably wondered what was causing it and whether you should be concerned. Symptoms such as radiating pain are often the first indication of a more serious medical issue. In some instances, radiating pain can last for weeks at a time.
What is another word for radiating pain?
Radicular pain – Radicular pain is a very specific type of pain can occur when the spinal nerve gets compressed or inflamed. It radiates from the back and hip into the leg(s) by way of the spine and spinal nerve root. People who have radicular pain may experience tingling, numbness, and muscle weakness.
Pain that radiates from the back and into the leg is called radiculopathy. It’s commonly known as sciatica because the pain is due to the sciatic nerve being affected. This type of pain is often steady, and people can feel it deep in the leg. Walking, sitting, and some other activities can make sciatica worse.
It is one of the most common forms of radicular pain.
What does radiates mean in medical terms?
Radiate: To spread out from a central area. For example, sciatic pain may radiate outward from the lower back.
Why is night pain a red flag?
Night Pain or Pain at Rest – Experiencing back pain at night or at rest can be—but isn’t necessarily—a sign of a serious condition such as an infection or cancer. This is particularly true if your night or resting back pain occurs alongside another symptom.
What is a deep word for pain?
synonym study For pain – 1-3, Pain, ache, agony, anguish are terms for sensations causing suffering or torment. Pain and ache usually refer to physical sensations (except heartache ); agony and anguish may be physical or mental. Pain suggests a sudden sharp twinge: a pain in one’s ankle.
What are examples of referred and radiating pain?
Epidemiology /Etiology – The most common causes of referred pain are pain radiating from: a spinal segment, a sacroiliac joint, viscera, tumors, infections or from associated manifestations. It should also be noted that the pain is always related to the nerve of this particular area.
