Medical expert of the article
New publications
Irradiating pain
Last reviewed: 06.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Referred pain (Synalgia, Referred Pain) is pain that a person experiences in some part of the body that does not correspond to the actual place of its origin. For example, an abscess in the area under the diaphragm may cause pain not there at all, but in the shoulder area. When a person has heart disease, it may cause pain not in the heart, but in the hand or fingers on the left. What are the causes of reflected or radiating pain?
[ What causes radiating pain?
It is still not known exactly what compounds in the human body cause radiating pain, but there are several theories that plausibly explain what could cause this strange phenomenon. Radiating pain occurs due to the sensitivity of nerve fibers in areas with a high level of sensory sensitivity, such as the skin and internal organs.
So during a heart attack, nerves from the damaged heart tissue send signals to the T1-T4 spinal processes of the spinal cord, on the left side, and the pain is transmitted to the left arm. Since the brain does not perceive such strong pain signals in the heart, it deciphers them not as pain in the heart, but as pain in the left arm or chest.
Trigger points
Trigger points can be found near the areas of the body where a person feels radiating pain. It is enough to press on them or poke them with a needle during acupuncture, and severe pain can occur. Sometimes they are quite long and sharp. These points can be found even in relatively healthy people. But most often they are diagnosed in patients, those who suffer from cardiovascular diseases, those who suffer from chest pain. This pain can also radiate to the shoulder blades and bother along the entire length of the spine - on both sides.
What types of radiating pain are there?
Shoulder pain
It can be caused by liver problems, gastric ulcers, gallstones, pericarditis, pneumonia, or a ruptured spleen.
Headache
Also known as "brain freeze," this pain is caused by the vagus nerve becoming cold when the throat becomes cold from eating something cold, like ice cream.
Pain in appendicitis
Sometimes people with acute appendicitis may feel pain in the right shoulder rather than the abdomen.
How is radiating pain treated?
Referred pain is treated in a variety of ways, but one of the best ways to combat referred pain is to track your pain patterns to provide this information to your doctor. If the area where you feel pain is found to be normal, an x-ray will show the exact cause of the pain. Treatment options may include physical therapy, medication, or surgery depending on the diagnosis.