What Is Referred Pain?

When you feel pain, you usually expect the source of the problem to be in the same place as the discomfort. But sometimes the body works in mysterious ways. Pain in one part of your body may actually be caused by an issue somewhere completely different. This is known as referred pain, and it’s far more common than most people realise.

At Back to Basics Chiropractic, we see people every day who are confused about why a shoulder hurts when the real issue is in the neck, or why hip pain is triggered by a problem in the lower back. Understanding referred pain is an important step in finding long-lasting relief, rather than simply chasing symptoms.

What Exactly Is Referred Pain?

Referred pain is discomfort that is felt in a location away from the actual source of the problem. Instead of hurting where the injury, irritation, or inflammation is occurring, the brain receives mixed messages and interprets the pain as coming from another area.

This happens because nerves in your body share similar pathways. When one nerve sends a distress signal, the brain sometimes misreads where that signal originated. Think of it like a faulty wire in a circuit: the signal shows up in the wrong place.

Referred pain is different from radiating pain, which travels along a nerve pathway. Instead, referred pain appears in a separate area that seems unrelated — which can make it frustrating, confusing, and easy to misdiagnose without proper assessment.

Common Examples of Referred Pain

Referred pain can show up almost anywhere in the body. Some of the most frequent patterns we see in our clinic include:

1. Neck Problems → Shoulder, Upper Back or Arm Pain

Tension or joint irritation in the neck can lead to pain felt across the shoulder blades, down the arms, or into the hands. Many patients assume they’ve injured their shoulder when the neck is actually responsible.

2. Lower Back Issues → Hip, Groin or Leg Pain

A problem in the lumbar spine can create discomfort in the hips or groin, or mimic the feeling of a pulled muscle in the thigh.

3. Trigger Points in Muscles → Headaches or Facial Pain

Tight knots in the neck or upper back can cause headaches, jaw discomfort, or even eye pain.

4. Thoracic Spine Dysfunction → Chest or Rib Pain

Irritation in the mid-back area can create sharp, aching or burning pain around the chest or ribs, often mistaken for heart or lung issues.

5. Pelvic or Sacroiliac Joint Issues → Hamstring or Knee Pain

Many people believe they have a knee problem when the real cause is a misalignment or irritation in the pelvis.

Why Does Referred Pain Happen?

There are a few key reasons referred pain occurs:

Shared Nerve Pathways

Different areas of the body can be supplied by nerves that join the same pathway on the way to the brain. When the brain receives the signal, it may interpret it incorrectly.

Protective Response

Sometimes the body sends pain to a less vital area to protect more important structures.

Muscle Trigger Points

Tight or irritated muscles can create strong referral patterns that mimic injury.

Joint Dysfunction

Stiff or misaligned joints can cause irritation that leads to pain in a distant area.

How Chiropractic Care Helps With Referred Pain

Because referred pain doesn’t always show up where the true issue is, effective treatment requires a thorough, holistic approach. At Back to Basics Chiropractic, we focus on:

• Identifying the real source of the problem

Your chiropractor performs a detailed assessment, including movement tests, orthopaedic checks, neurological exams and hands-on evaluation.

• Restoring normal joint and muscle function

Gentle chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and targeted exercises help reduce irritation and improve mobility.

• Releasing trigger points

Hands-on techniques can calm the tight knots that cause headaches, facial pain, or limb discomfort.

• Improving posture and biomechanics

Poor movement patterns often contribute to referred pain. We help you correct underlying habits.

• Providing long-term strategies

Stretches, strengthening exercises, ergonomic advice, and lifestyle tips help prevent pain from returning.

When Should You See a Chiropractor?

You should seek professional assessment if:

• You feel pain in an unusual or unexpected area
• You’ve tried home remedies but symptoms linger or return
• Your pain moves around or seems disconnected from activity
• You have ongoing headaches, shoulder tension, or hip discomfort
• You want to treat the cause, not just mask the symptoms

Referred pain is incredibly treatable — once the real source is identified.

You Don’t Have to Live With Confusing Pain

Referred pain can make it feel like your body is sending mixed signals, but with the right assessment and treatment, relief is absolutely possible. At Back to Basics Chiropractic, our goal is to uncover the true cause of your discomfort and help you move, feel, and live better.