Somatic Pain

What is somatic pain?

Somatic pain comes from inflammation of, or damage to, the following tissues:

• Skin.
• Bones.
• Muscles.
• Joints.
• Ligaments and tendons.
• Mucous membranes (mucosa), like in your mouth and nose.
• Chest wall and abdominal wall.

These are mainly musculoskeletal structures. Somatic pain is usually acute (temporary — less than six months), but it can become chronic (long term).

Somatic pain is the most common type of pain — many of us experience mild, brief forms of it at least once a day.

What’s the difference between somatic and visceral pain?

Visceral pain is pain that originates from your blood vessels and internal organs, like your pancreas, heart or lungs. Somatic pain covers all other bodily tissues (like skin, muscles and bones), except for nerves. Nerve pain is called neuropathic pain.

Both visceral and somatic pain are types of nociceptive pain. This means that the pain process originates from special receptors on your peripheral nerves called nociceptors. Somatic pain is generally easier to locate than visceral pain.

What does somatic pain feel like?

People often describe somatic pain as:

• Stabbing.
• Sharp.
• Aching.
• Cramping.

Somatic pain can range from mild to severe, depending on the extent of the injury. The pain can be superficial (like pain coming from a cut on your skin) or deep (like bone pain from a fracture).

Somatic pain is usually centered around the area of injury or inflammation. This is different, for example, from neuropathic pain, which can radiate across an area of your body (radiculopathy). But deep somatic pain can sometimes feel more generalized.

What causes somatic pain?

Several situations and conditions can cause somatic pain. Some examples of somatic pain include:

• Impacts (like running into a blunt object), which can lead to painful bruises.
• Cuts in your skin or mucus membranes.
• Burns, including sunburn, heat burns and chemical burns.
• Infections, like skin or ear infections.
• Torn muscles, ligaments or tendons.
• Muscle cramps.
• Joint dislocation.
• Sprains, like a sprained ankle.
• Bone fractures.
• Osteoarthritis and other bone disorders.
• Inflammation, which may involve skin rashes.

Your body has a specific process for detecting and reacting to harm. Pain is a part of that process. Somatic pain develops in these steps:

• Harmful stimuli (like intense heat or cold, force or a sharp object) cause damage to cells of your body. The damage triggers the release of special chemicals into the surrounding tissue.
• Your peripheral nerves have receptors called nociceptors. These work like metal detectors, sensing the release of the special chemicals and sounding an alarm immediately. When nociceptors detect the chemicals from damaged cells, they immediately send high-priority signals to your brain (via your spinal cord). But the signals they send aren’t pain itself.
• Your brain receives these signals and translates them into the feeling of pain. Your brain also maps that feeling to the area that first sent the signals, so you know where the issue is.
• The feeling of pain triggers immediate reactions in your brain and body. Those reactions are usually protective (like reflexes). For example, you may quickly move your hand away from a hot stovetop.

How is somatic pain diagnosed?

If you have somatic pain and you don’t know the cause, your healthcare provider will ask questions about your medical history and about:

• Any other symptoms you have, like a rash, swelling or signs of infection.
• How long you’ve had pain and when it started.
• Which factors make the pain worse or relieve it (like certain movements).

Your provider will also ask how the pain feels. Sometimes, providers ask you to rate your pain on a scale from 0 to 10 (pain scale). Then, your provider will do a physical exam to look for the pain’s source. They may touch or move the affected area.

If the cause isn’t apparent, your provider may order other tests to help find the problem, like:

• Blood tests.
• X-rays.
• Ultrasound.
• Computed tomography (CT) scans.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

How is somatic pain treated?

Treatment for somatic pain depends on the severity and cause. You can treat many causes of somatic pain at home. But some cases of somatic pain may need medical treatment.

At-home remedies for somatic pain

Your healthcare provider may guide you to manage certain causes of somatic pain at home. Recommendations may include:

• Hot and cold therapy, like using a heating pad or ice.
• The RICE technique (rest, ice, compression and elevation).
• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers, like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen.
• Strengthening and stretching exercises for muscle-related pain.

Medical treatment for somatic pain

Certain injuries or conditions that cause somatic pain may need medical treatment. Treatment examples include:

• Physical therapy.
• Casts or splints.
• Hydrotherapy.
• Chiropractic adjustment.
• Prescription pain relievers.
• Prescription muscle relaxants.
• Corticosteroids (like oral pills or creams).
• Steroid injections.
• Therapeutic massage.
• Acupuncture.
• Biofeedback.

When should I see my healthcare provider about pain?

See your healthcare provider if:

• The pain doesn’t get better, worsens or comes back after treatment.
• You feel anxious or depressed because of pain.
• You’re having trouble sleeping because of pain.
• Discomfort and pain are keeping you from enjoying your usual activities.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Somatic pain is often temporary and mild. But serious injuries and certain conditions can make the pain severe and/or chronic. If your pain persists or you have a serious injury, see your healthcare provider. They can diagnose the cause and provide treatment options.