Question

The nurse is assessing the patient who appears to be in acute pain. Which of the following findings best indicates the presence of referred pain?

1) Pain that is localized to the site of injury
2) Pain that is felt in a different area than the site of injury
3) Pain that is relieved with rest
4) Pain that is worsened with movement

Answer 1

Referred pain is indicated by pain felt in a different area than the site of injury, such as heart-related pain being felt in the left shoulder and arm, due to visceral sensations being projected to different body regions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The presence of referred pain is best indicated by pain that is felt in a different area than the site of injury. Unlike local pain that is felt at the site of the injury, referred pain is the conscious perception of visceral sensations that are projected to different regions of the body. For instance, a classic example of referred pain is when visceral sensations of the heart are perceived as pain in the left shoulder and arm. This type of pain is often an important clinical indicator of the underlying condition of internal organs and is not alleviated by rest or worsened with movement specifically, but rather occurs due to shared neural pathways between the affected internal organ and the area where the pain is felt.