Definition: Somatic pain is a type of nociceptive pain. Unlike visceral pain (another type of nociceptive pain), the nerves that detect somatic pain are located in the skin and deep tissues. These specialized nerves, called nociceptors, pick up sensations related to temperature, vibration and swelling in the skin, joints and muscles.
If you cut your skin, the pain you experience is somatic pain. You also experience somatic pain if you stretch a muscle too far or exercise for a long period of time. Nociceptors send impulses to the brain when they detect some kind of tissue damage.
How somatic pain and nociceptive pain are different.
Most somatic pain responds well to over-the-counter medications such as NSAIDs or other analgesics. It usually fades once the injury heals, however somatic pain lasting longer than expected can become chronic pain.
Pronunciation: sew-mat-ick pain
Also Known As: muscle pain, skin pain, tissue pain
Examples:
Some examples of somatic pain include certain types of headaches as well as some types of pelvic pain.
