Explained: Chronic Back or Neck Pain, Headaches or Migraines

Imagine a lamp in your house that stops working. You replace the bulb, but it still doesn't light up. The problem might not be with the bulb; it could be an issue in the electrical closet. The same concept applies to the human body. When you experience shouler pain and treating it doesn't help, the pain might not be coming from the shoulder itself. It could be referred pain.

What is Referred Pain?

Referred pain occurs when pain is felt in a different area from its source. For example, a problem in your neck might cause pain in your shoulder. This happens because all areas in our body are interconnected through nerves,  fascia and so much more.

Osteopathy focuses on treating the whole body. Osteopaths use their hands to diagnose and treat blockages and tension. They look for the root cause of pain, not just the symptoms.

Localized Pain vs. Referred Pain

Localized Pain:

This type of pain is felt directly at the site of the problem. If you stub your toe, the pain is felt in your toe.

Referred Pain:

This pain is felt in an area different from where the problem is. For instance, a heart attack can cause pain in the arm, not just the chest, this as a result from the shared innervation of both structures. The example below shows reffered pain from organs.

How Osteopathy Can Help

Osteopathy focuses on treating the whole body. Osteopaths use their hands to diagnose and treat issues. They look for the root cause of pain, not just the symptoms. The following structures can lie at the base of the problem:

Organs

Infections
When an organ is infected, it can cause inflammation and irritation of the nerves or local structures. For example, an infection in the gallbladder might lead to referred pain in the right shoulder or back. This occurs because the sensory fibers from the gallbladder and the sensory fibers from the skin over the shoulder share the same spinal segments. The brain interprets the visceral pain as coming from the somatic region, leading to referred pain.

Trauma
A falls can lead to trauma in internal organs, resulting in referred pain. For instance, a fall that impacts the lower abdomen might cause trauma to the kidneys, leading to referred pain in the groin or lower back. The impact causes a disruption in the normal function or positioning of the organs, potentially affecting nearby nerves, which then transmit pain signals to other areas of the body. The stiffness in the fascia surrounding the organs due to trauma can also create tension, further exacerbating referred pain.

Chronic Overuse
Chronic overuse and stress can lead to tensions in the fascia surrounding internal organs, affecting their function and causing pain to be referred elsewhere in the body. For example, chronic overuse of digestive organs, such as through persistent overeating or stress-induced digestive issues, can lead to tension in the fascia around the stomach and intestines. This tension can irritate the vagus nerve or other visceral nerves, causing referred pain in areas like the chest or back. The neurological connections between the organ and distant areas create a network where pain can be misinterpreted, leading to symptoms in regions that are not directly injured.

Soft Tissue 

An osteopath might check if you have a limited range of motion (ROM) in nearby joints. They may also look for blockages in fascial structures around from old injuries, inflammation, or trauma. The pain might be traced back to the root of a nerve that connects to the painful area.

Hard Tissue:

Sometimes, chronic physical problems in the body can stem from unexpected distant sources, such as distant joints or imbalances in the body’s structural system. A prime example of this is the craniosacral system, which plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. This system involves the movement and interaction between the skull (cranium) and the sacrum (tailbone). If there is restricted mobility or imbalance in these areas, it can influence other parts of the body, including the musculoskeletal system and even the way we walk or wear shoes.

People with frequent falls on the head or on the tailbone can suffer from blockages at this system even years later. The have undergone multiple scans and treatments without results. They have all types of unexplaineble pains and problems. For example, if a muscle suffers from a cramp, it is also not detectable on a scan but it doesn't mean there isn't someting going on.

Conclusion

By addressing these underlying issues, osteopathy can help alleviate referred pain. The goal is to restore balance and function to the body, ensuring that the pain is treated at its source. Understanding referred pain and how osteopathy can help is crucial for effective treatment. Just like fixing the electrical problem in your house, finding the root cause of your pain can lead to lasting relief.

If you have questions regarding a chronic issue, feel free to contact us so we can help you get pain free again with our specialised physiotherapists or osteopaths.

Lotus Lech