14 C H I R O P R A C T O R M O N T H L Y M a y 2 0 0 7
The Real Source of
Referredmight think
It’s not where you
Pain
By Carlotta Holton
ave you ever nerve in the human body which
H experienced pain in
your leg and when you
visit your chiropractor you
contains five offshoots. If any one
is damaged it is possible to
experience referred pain.
learn the problem stems from “If you think of a horse’s tail
your back? This is called with all of its strands, the sciatic
‘referred’ pain. Perhaps you nerve has fibers that also extend
were in an accident and outward,” says Jenkins. The spinal
suffered whiplash, but the pain pain may not be felt in the spine
comes in the form of constant where the subluxation exists, but
and severe headaches or will be felt at the site where the
shoulder pain. Again, you are nerve’s fibers carry impulses, thus
suffering from referred pain. referring the pain somewhere else.”
The culprit? Spinal
subluxations create a great deal
NECK PAIN
muscle, tissue, organ - may function but
of referred pain. not to a normal degree as a result of Herring notes that he sees a lot of
spinal misalignment.” patients who come in after an accident
GOING TO THE SOURCE
A classic example of referred pain, with whiplash. “It often results in
Relief is paramount to the patient, but referred pains that include headaches
it may not come in the form you expect. “The body is like an electrical circuit. A resulting from a subluxation of the
“It is the chiropractor’s job to treat not subluxation is a short in the electrical Atlas.”
the area that hurts, but rather the source circuit. Whatever area the nerve goes to In addition, such symptoms as
of the pain, tingling, or numbness you – muscle, tissue, organ - may result in stiffness, loss of appetite, numbness and
are experiencing,” says Dr. Jason R. impingement, which in turn, results in tingling may be referred pain stemming
Jenkins, Jenkins Chiropractic, Milford, from the area.
referred pain.” Dr. Randal Herring, Herring
CT. “This may not be the area in which
Chiropractic, Tallassee, AL.. CHANNELING THE PROBLEM
you feel the pain.”
says Herring, is a heart attack. “You If you have ever experienced pain
YOU’VE GOT A LOT OF NERVE
might experience pain in the left arm or around the front of the body to the
According to Dr. Randal Herring, neck and it’s not those areas that are the sternum, across the rib cage, it may very
Herring Chiropractic, Tallassee, AL, the problem; it’s the heart.” well be referred pain that stems from the
body consists of 31 spinal nerves. As mid thoracic spine. “The pain follows
the nerve flows down through the body,
TRAVELING NERVES the nerve track,” explains Herring.
a subluxation at any level can result in Sciatica is a familiar example of Experts agree that ongoing
nerve impingement which in turn, referred terms. When a patient comes in chiropractic care can make all the
results in referred pain. “The body is they are complaining of pain that difference in your health.
like an electrical circuit,” he says. “A radiates down the legs. In truth, the Ongoing care is important in treating not
subluxation is a short in the electrical disorder occurs in the lower lumbar only referred pain, but is critical to
circuit. Whatever area the nerve goes – spine. The sciatica nerve is the largest achieving and maintaining wellness.
A LIFELONG COMMITMENT TO OPTIMUM HEALTH