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Referred Pain Relief and Treatment

When the pain you feel is originating from an area other than where you feel the pain, you are experiencing referred pain. The brain is receiving messages from interconnecting nerves supplying various tissues and consequently gets confused and may signal pain in an area other than the actual site of the injury. This is what happens when an individual having a heart attack feels pain in the left arm. It is not the arm that is injured, but the heart. The interconnectivity of nerves running to the heart and arm cause the brain to interpret the injury as being related to the arm.

Referred pain can be felt in different parts of the body, and an accurate diagnosis of the actual source of the pain is required to rule out serious health issues. Athletes and very active individuals commonly experience referred pain in the back and shoulders resulting from an injury. Certain health conditions can also generate referred pain.

Referred Lower Back Pain

When you experience pain in your lower back, it can be referred pain from interconnecting nerves supplying the area of the lower back, pelvis and thigh. If there is an injury to any of these structures, the pain can be referred to other structures. In the case of referred pain in the lower back, it is not associated with pinched nerves. Pain from this area may radiate to the groin, buttock and upper thigh.

Less common than sciatica, referred pain in the lower back often feels like a dull ache that moves around. The intensity of the pain ranges from mild to severe and comes and goes. An injury that causes axial back pain can also cause referred lower back pain.

Getting an accurate diagnosis of referred lower back pain in important. The pain generated by sciatica requires a different type of treatment than that of referred lower back pain. Your doctor will carefully examine your back to determine if the pain is caused by nerve irritation or referred pain.

Referred Shoulder Pain

There are several causes for referred shoulder pain. One of the most common causes is osteoarthritis. Others include:

  • Brachial plexus injury
  • Cervical disc bulge
  • Cervical facet joint sprain
  • Cervical postural syndrome
  • Cervical spine degeneration
  • Thoracic facet joint sprain
  • Thoracic postural syndrome
  • Costovertebral joint sprain
  • Thoracic spinal degeneration.

The pain you feel in your shoulder is unexplained and does not respond to movement of your neck, shoulder or arm if it is referred.

Other Sources of Referred Pain

Shoulder and back pain are often the result of referred pain from an issue with spinal alignment or health. However, referred pain in these areas can also be caused by serious health issues.

Pain on one side of the neck or in the upper shoulder area could be due to a problem with the phrenic nerve that runs from the spine through the lungs to the diaphragm. It could also indicate a breathing problem. Respiratory problems can often show up as pain in the neck muscles or the upper body.

Other organ problems that may manifest in the neck or upper shoulder area involve the gall bladder or liver. Problems with these may also cause pain in the chest area just below the right nipple. Gall bladder problems may also be felt as referred pain in the shoulder blade.

You may feel pain in your back or have tenderness in the upper quadrants of your body if you have a problem with your pancreas. Stomach problems can also manifest in these areas. It can be difficult to determine if you are experiencing back pain or pancreatitis. Examination by a doctor will identify the cause of the pain.

Referred pain from the kidneys can cover a large area including the lower back, pelvis, abdomen and the upper portions of the legs. Kidney problems can be life-threatening, so it is important to address pain in these areas. Likewise, bladder issues can also manifest as pain in the lower pelvic region, or lumbar area.

An accurate diagnosis of referred pain is critical to rule out serious health problems and develop an effective treatment plan. At Manhattan Sports Therapy, we find the source of your pain and provide treatment for relief. When you experience pain, contact us to schedule an appointment for a consultation and a thorough examination.

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Happy Patients View More Testimonials

Pam L.

Having performed surgery for decades my neck And back have been damaged. I can honestly say that Rachel has kept me functioning at a high level. Nobody else was. Despite being a surgical candidate which is refused to have she managed to overcome all of my problems. The office is also immaculately clean ( I am a germaphobe). Chiro in the past was hit or miss. Sometimes it helped and sometimes it actually made things worse. This has never happened with Rachel. I always feel better. Guaranteed. She will bend over backwards to accommodate my schedule. She is a rising star.

Will A.

The entire staff is very helpful, kind, and extremely efficient. If it wasn't for Dr. Rolland Miro I strongly feel the bursitis in my shoulder would still be in major pain. If you have shoulder pain, rotator cuff issues, or bursitis don't hesitate, RUN to see this man! I came to Manhattan Sports Therapy skeptical because I had already visited two other physical therapist who were not getting me better. I had pain for 9 months until visiting MST. Miro was patient with my healing process and was always transparent when telling me what stages I was in my recovery. Now I am fully recovered back to pumping iron and putting on a backpack without pain. Thank you to everyone in that office for making my experience great from start to finish.

Natalie V.

I was having severe inner hip and lower back pain for months. Every step I took was painful. I couldn't run, bike, swim or even attempt a workout. I started seeing a PT twice a week for a month and nothing happened, in fact, my pain increased. So, I decided to try another Physician and I found Manhattan Sports Therapy and Dr. Rolland Miro. After my first appointment, I knew I made the right choice. I started seeing Dr. Rolland twice a week. After my first week, I could already feel a HUGE difference. After week three, the pain in my hip was completely gone. It's now been two months and as I continue my treatment, I'm feeling better and better. I ran five miles for the first time in over a year last week! I highly highly recommend Dr. Rolland. He's the best at what he does and he's very knowledgable when it comes to health and fitness all around.

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