Chronic Low Back Pain & Somatic Referred Pain

This article is part of a series written by Dr. Kevin Pauza

Chronic low back pain can be a condition that is difficult to understand because there are so many variables that can cause it. Adding to the confusion is somatic referred pain, an issue that chronic low back pain even more burdensome than it already is by causing this pain to be felt in other areas of the body. So what exactly is somatic referred pain and how does it affect chronic low back pain?

What is Somatic Referred Pain?

In order to understand somatic referred pain, we first need to define the terms somatic pain and referred pain.

Somatic pain is pain that is elicited by nociceptive information that comes from the tissues that make up the body. These tissues include bones, muscles, joints, and ligaments, as well as tendons of the spine, trunk, and limbs. In plain terms, somatic pain is a term used to describe pain that does not come from your body’s internal organs.¹

Referred pain is pain that is felt in a region of the body that is supplied by nerves different from the nerves that are supplying that source of pain.¹

Now that we understand these definitions of somatic and referred pain, we can understand that somatic referred pain is somatic pain that is being referred to another part of the body.¹

Somatic Referred Pain’s Connection to Chronic Low Back Pain

Somatic referred pain is a cause of arm and leg pain that is related to chronic low back pain, but can be difficult to understand.

To understand somatic pain referral, think of a heart attack. When a person has a heart attack, they often experience pain in their left arm or jaw. Their arm and jaw are completely normal, however, the heart happens to commonly refer symptoms into the left arm and jaw when there is a problem. Likewise, when there is a problem in a disc, it not only causes chronic low back pain, but the disc often refers chronic pain into the leg or arm as well.

So we understand that annular tears may refer chronic low back pain into the leg or arm in these two ways: through the damaging inflammatory chemicals leaking directly onto the passing spinal nerves, or through the inflammatory chemicals within the disc in the torn layers of the annulus fibrosus, which refers somatic symptoms into the legs or arms.

Fortunately, all of these chronic low back pain symptoms are successfully treated after the annular tears are repaired.

Treating Somatic Referred Pain With the Discseel^®Procedure

While it’s true that somatic referred pain that is related to chronic low back pain can be solved by treating annular tears in the spinal discs, most common treatments used to treat spine issues are unable to address these tears.

The only treatment known to successfully address annular tears is the Discseel^® Procedure. Not only is this procedure able to address tears, but it also provides a lasting solution by healing annular tears.

This is done by utilizing a natural fibrin biologic that both seals torn discs and encourages tissue growth, allowing spinal discs to heal themselves. This would not be possible naturally, as spinal discs don’t naturally have enough blood vessels to heal themselves when torn.

Find out if you’re a candidate for the Discseel^® Procedure by applying today, and take your first step toward living without chronic low back pain.