Can back pain be referred?

Referred Pain to the Lumbar Spine. Pain in the area of the lumbar spine may be due to important problems that are actually unrelated to the back. Referred pain occurs when a problem in one place in the body causes pain in another place. The pain travels down a nerve.

Why is back pain at night a red flag?

Nocturnal back pain is also a symptom of spinal bone infection (osteomyelitis) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a condition that can cause the spine to fuse in a fixed, immobile position. Other “red flags” include: Back pain that spreads down one or both legs. Weakness, numbness, or tingling in legs.

What is referred pain caused by?

Referred pain is when the pain you feel in one part of your body is actually caused by pain or injury in another part of your body. For example, an injured pancreas could be causing pain in your back, or a heart attack could be triggering pain in your jaw.

What causes referred upper back pain?

Poor posture, injury, or problems with the spine can all lead to upper back pain. A common cause of pain between the shoulder blades is muscle strain. Treatments for mild upper back pain include stretching exercises and pain relievers. Some cases of pain between the shoulder blades are preventable.

Is constant pain a red flag?

Red flags include: The person being 50 years of age or more. Gradual onset of symptoms. Severe unremitting pain that remains when the person is supine, aching night pain that prevents or disturbs sleep, pain aggravated by straining (for example, at stool, or when coughing or sneezing), and thoracic pain.

Is referred pain constant?

Referred shoulder pain is often constant, which means your shoulder will hurt even when you’re resting or not using your arm or shoulder.

Is referred pain a type of neuropathic pain?

The radiating component of radicular pain is technically “referred pain.” This type of “referred pain” is not a nociceptive process, it is neuropathic, even if momentary. Pain with such a specific distribution seems unlikely to even be central.

How do you know if back pain is muscular?

These are typical symptoms you might experience:

  1. your back hurting more when you move, less when you stay still.
  2. pain in your back radiating down into your buttocks but not typically extending into your legs.
  3. muscle cramps or spasms in your back.
  4. trouble walking or bending.
  5. difficulty standing up straight.

Is referred pain tender to touch?

The most notable feature of CMP is the presence of trigger points. These trigger points or “tender points” are highly sensitive areas within the muscle that are painful to touch and cause pain that can be felt in another area of the body, called referred pain.