Radiating pain describes the symptom of pain that starts in one place on your body and spreads out into a larger area. Often pain radiates out from your neck, chest, back and abdomen into shoulder, arms, hips and legs. This sensation differs from referred pain because that symptom is actually felt elsewhere from the causal site. And spreading pain that is accompanied by paresthesia and muscle weakness often indicates a nerve is being affected in some way.
There are numerous health conditions that could be the cause of your radiating pain symptoms, for instance:
- angina
- bursitis
- neuritis
- sciatica
- whiplash
- heartburn
- tendonitis
- sacroiliitis
- gallstones
- acid reflux
- joint sprain
- neuropathy
- pancreatitis
- tooth decay
- fibromyalgia
- hiatial hernia
- carpal tunnel
- muscle strain
- pinched nerve
- herniated disk
- muscle cramp
- inguinal hernia
- spinal stenosis
- tooth extraction
- aortic aneurysm
- nerve entrapment
- cervical disc disease
- degenerative disc disease
- myofascial pain syndrome
Radiating pain out of the chest and into the shoulder, neck, back, arm and jaw areas can be a symptom of an impending heart attack.
Standard methods for treating radiating pain include anti-inflammatory drugs, pain relievers, exercise, physical therapy and heat therapy. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to relieve pain that radiates.
