Sometimes we feel a pain that feels like a stomachache or a tightness in our chest, right? But it's hard to pinpoint exactly where it hurts. The pain feels like it's spread throughout our body. That's how we call 'visceral pain' when it comes from the organs inside our body, such as the heart, lungs, bladder, and digestive system in the chest, abdomen, and pelvis.
What does this visceral pain feel like?
The way pain is actually felt varies from person to person. What one person might feel as "a little sore" may be felt as "unbearably painful" by another. But in general, this visceral pain feels like a deep, widespread pain coming from deep within the body. Rather than a sharp pain like stabbing with a knife, it feels like a dull ache, like something is being stuck inside and squeezing.
The words people usually use to describe this pain are:
- Deep: It feels like it's coming from deep within the body, not from the surface.
- Diffuse: It feels like it's spread out, not in one place.
- Crampy: A pain that feels like you're holding your stomach.
- Achy: A persistent pain.
- Squeezing: As if something is being squeezed from the inside.
- Gnawing: Pain that feels like something is being eaten from the inside.
- Dull: A discomfort that is not sharp, but persistent.
- Pressure: A feeling of something pressing inside.
The important thing is that sometimes even a small injury inside the body can feel like unbearable pain. And sometimes even a big injury can feel like not so much pain.
What is the difference between Visceral Pain and Somatic Pain?
Let's talk about two types of pain. One is Visceral Pain, which we're talking about here. The other is Somatic Pain. Understanding the difference between the two will give you a better idea of this condition.
Simply put, Somatic Pain is pain that comes from areas like our skin, muscles, joints, and bones. Because there are many nerves in these areas that detect pain, the pain is very sharp, and you can tell exactly where it hurts.
Imagine your hand being cut by a piece of paper. That's a good example of Somatic Pain. That pain is sharp, felt exactly where the cut occurred. But a stomach ache is Visceral Pain. It feels diffuse, dull, and hard to pinpoint.
This difference can be understood more clearly from the table below.
| Characteristic | Visceral Pain | Somatic Pain |
|---|---|---|
| How it feels | Dark, pervasive, deep, suffocating | Sharp, prickly, can tell the exact location |
| Location of pain | It's hard to find the exact location. | You can easily find the location of the pain. |
| Examples | Stomach ache, menstrual pain, urinary tract infection pain | Cutting a hand on paper, hitting a finger, breaking a bone |
Referred Pain
Another unique feature of visceral pain is referred pain. This is when a problem in one part of the body causes pain in a different part of the body. For example, some people may feel pain in their chest instead of their stomach. This is because the brain cannot pinpoint where the pain is coming from.
Why do we have this pain?
This is, simply put, a warning from your nervous system. A way of saying, "There's something wrong inside your body, pay attention to it."
There are special nerve endings (pain receptors) in our bodies that can detect pain, which we call nociceptors . These are the ones that send signals to the brain when an organ is damaged, pressured, infected, or inflamed.
Unlike our fingertips, the organs inside the body have fewer nociceptors, and they are located farther apart. That's why it's hard for the brain to pinpoint exactly where it hurts, and the pain feels like it's spread out.
Some of the main causes of visceral pain are:
- An injury to an internal organ.
- An infection.
- Blockage of something like a tube.
- Inflammation and swelling.
- Internal bleeding or decreased blood circulation.
- Cancerous or non-cancerous growths.
What conditions cause visceral pain?
This pain can be caused by any medical condition that affects our internal organs. Some of them include:
- Appendicitis
- Bladder inflammation
- Bowel obstruction
- Cancer
- Endometriosis
- Heart attack
- Indigestion
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Kidney infection
- Stomach ulcers
- Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)
What are the treatments for this pain?
Always remember, the most important thing is to treat the underlying condition that is causing the pain. Pain is your body's warning signal. So, rather than suppressing the pain with a painkiller, it's best to find out why the pain is happening and seek the advice of a doctor.
Your doctor will recommend various methods to manage the pain until the cause is identified.
Medications
- Common painkillers: Your doctor may recommend paracetamol or NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen). However, these should only be used under medical advice.
- Prescription medications: Medications such as Gabapentin and Pregabalin, which are used for some nerve pain, or opioids, which are used for severe pain, may be prescribed. Opioids, in particular, can be addictive and should only be taken under the close supervision of a doctor .
- Injections: If other treatments do not control the pain, medications such as Lidocaine or Capsaicin can be injected into the affected tissues.
Other Therapies
These can also be used to control pain and treat the underlying cause.
- Physical therapy
- Psychotherapy - especially for the psychological distress that comes with long-term pain.
- Acupuncture
Finally, if you have a dull, diffuse pain coming from deep within your body, don't ignore it. It could be an important message from your body. See a doctor right away to find out exactly what's causing it.
Take-Home Message
- Visceral Pain is a deep, widespread pain that comes from the organs inside our bodies.
- It is difficult to pinpoint exactly where this pain is coming from. Sometimes the pain is felt from somewhere other than the problem (referred pain).
- This pain can sometimes be a sign of a serious medical condition, so never ignore it.
- If you have persistent or severe pain, see your doctor immediately.
- The most important thing in treatment is to find and treat the underlying cause of the pain. Temporarily suppressing the pain is not a solution.
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