Some people describe somatic pain as “sharp.”

It isnociceptive, which means it’s brought on by an injury, inflammation, or pressure.

Somatic pain andvisceral painare different.

Man massaging his shoulder

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Visceral pain is also nociceptive, but it arises from internal organs.

The nerves that detect somatic pain are located in the skin and deep tissues.

Types of Somatic Pain

There are two types of somatic pain: superficial and deep.

They differ in terms of where in the body the pain originates.

Superficial Somatic Pain

Superficial pain arises from nociceptive receptors in the skin andmucous membranes.

Deep somatic pain can either be experienced locally or more generally depending on the degree of trauma.

For example, if you bump your knee, the pain that you experience is localized to your knee.

However, if you break your kneecap, you likely experience pain throughout your entire leg.

Because you are not used to experiencing pain there, the brain may misidentify its origin.

A big difference between Tylenol and NSAIDs is that Tylenol offers no anti-inflammatory effects.

So, Tylenol won’t help with associated swelling.

kindly keep in mind that opioids carry a great risk of substance misuse and dependence.

This is why opioids are typically prescribed for only short periods of time.

Even activities like physical therapy, massage, or relaxation can help.

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