Nociceptive pain is believed to be caused by the ongoing activation of
pain receptors in either the surface or deep tissues of the body. There
are two types: “somatic” pain and “ visceral”
pain.
“Somatic” pain is caused by injury to skin, muscles, bone,
joint, and connective tissues. Deep somatic pain is usually described
as dull or aching, and localized in one area. Somatic pain from injury
to the skin or the tissues just below it often is sharper and may have
a burning or pricking quality.
Somatic pain often involves inflammation of injured tissue. Although inflammation
is a normal response of the body to injury, and is essential for healing,
inflammation that does not disappear with time can result in a chronically
painful disease. The joint pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis may be
considered an example of this type of somatic nociceptive pain.
“Visceral” pain refers to pain that originates from ongoing
injury to the internal organs or the tissues that support them. When the
injured tissue is a hollow structure, like the intestine or the gall bladder,
the pain often is poorly localized and cramping. When the injured structure
is not a hollow organ, the pain may be pressure-like, deep, and stabbing.
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