Understanding Back Pain
Referred Pain of Visceral Origin
Many theories have
been proposed in an attempt to explain the underlying reason for
visceral referred pain. The mechanisms leading to referred pain are
fairly complex representing different contributing factors. It is
widely accepted that there are numerous pathways within the central
nervous system (brain and spinal cord) that converge and carry
(transmit) pain messages from the organs, skin and underlying
musculoskeletal tissues such as tendons and muscles. This leads to a
sort of “cross talk� between the various systems within the central
nervous system. Subsequently, the brain may interpret pain arising from
an area other than the actual source. Sometimes pain associated with a
spine disorder and an internal disorder will coexist and overlap. For
example, an individual may experience mid back pain secondary to spinal
arthritis and degenerative disc disease while also experiencing
referred pain to the mid-back secondary to underlying heart disease.
Neck or back pain with a complicated origin may require an integrated
multi-specialty diagnostic workup.
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