Chronic Pain Types Main Types of Chronic Pain By Erica Jacques Erica Jacques LinkedIn Erica Jacques, OT, is a board-certified occupational therapist at a level one trauma center. Learn about our editorial process Updated on March 13, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Keri Peterson, MD Medically reviewed by Keri Peterson, MD Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Keri Peterson, MD, is board-certified in internal medicine and has her own private practice on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. She holds appointments at Lenox Hill Hospital and Mount Sinai Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print 1 Nociceptive Pain Ghislain & Marie David de Lossy/Getty Images Nociceptive pain is pain detected in either the body's soft tissues (such as muscles and skin) or organs by specialized sensory nerves, known as nociceptors. Nociceptors detect painful stimuli, sending information to the spinal cord and brain for interpretation and response. Nociceptive pain may be somatic or visceral in nature. Examples of nociceptive pain: Headaches Pelvic pain not caused by nerve damage Arthritis Fibromyalgia 2 Somatic Pain Somatic pain is a type of nociceptive pain. Somatic pain refers to pain detected by sensory nerves in the muscles, skin and soft tissues. When you experience somatic pain, nociceptors send pain messages to the spinal cord and brain for interpretation. This type of pain is often easy to locate, as sensory nerves are well-distributed throughout the soft tissue. Examples of somatic pain include: Tension headaches Pelvic pain from joint instability Arthritis Bone fracture Back pain not caused by nerves 3 Visceral Pain Visceral pain is also a type of nociceptive pain. Visceral pain refers to pain detected by nociceptors in the body's internal organs. Like somatic pain, visceral pain detected by sensory nerves is sent to the spinal cord and brain for interpretation. Sensory nerves in the internal organs are not as widespread as they are in the body's muscles and skin. This can make visceral pain feel dull and hard to localize. Unlike somatic pain, visceral pain may be felt further away from its actual origin. Some examples of visceral pain include: Endometriosis Irritable bowel syndrome Bladder pain (such as cystitis) Prostate pain 4 Neuropathic Pain Neuropathic pain is also caused by nerves, but it is different from nociceptive pain in that the nerves are often not functioning "normally." Neuropathic pain is caused by nerve disturbances and spontaneous transmission of pain signals to the spinal cord and brain. Neuropathic pain is often described as sharp, stabbing, shooting, burning, or electrical. Some possible reasons for neuropathic pain include nerve irritation, nerve damage or the formation of a neuroma. Examples of neuropathic pain include: Peripheral neuropathy (for example, diabetic neuropathy) Post-mastectomy pain Sciatica 5 Psychogenic Pain Psychogenic pain is the term for pain caused by a psychological disorder, such as depression or anxiety. Many psychological disorders have physical complications, such as fatigue and muscle aches and pains. Because psychogenic pain does not usually have any physical origin, it is more difficult to treat than nociceptive or neuropathic pain. Psychogenic pain is real, though it may require a different treatment approach than other physical types of pain. Non-pharmaceutical pain treatments, combined with antidepressants or other psychological medications, are often more effective than traditional painkillers. These include: TENS Distraction Relaxation Counseling 6 Idiopathic Pain Idiopathic pain is pain that exists when there is no known physical or psychological cause. Idiopathic pain cannot be traced back to a nociceptive, neuropathic or psychogenic cause. While the cause of pain may not be detectable with current medical knowledge, it is still very real. Idiopathic pain is more common in people who have a pre-existing pain disorder. These disorders include TMJ disorders and fibromyalgia. Because its cause is not apparent, idiopathic pain is often difficult to treat. 7 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Paice J. Understanding nociceptive pain. Nursing 2020. 2002;32(3):74-75. Altus Hospital. 6 different types of chronic pain. Murphy PM. Somatic Pain. Encyclopedia of Pain. 2007:2190-2192. doi:10.1007/978-3-540-29805-2_4061. Duarte RA, Argoff CE. Classification of Pain. Pain Management Secrets. 2009:15-18. doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-04019-8.00002-0 Wesselmann U, Baranowski AP, Börjesson M, et al. Emerging therapies and novel approaches to visceral pain. Drug Discov Today Ther Strateg. 2009;6(3):89-95. doi:10.1016/j.ddstr.2009.05.001 Costigan M, Scholz J, Woolf CJ. Neuropathic pain: a maladaptive response of the nervous system to damage. Annu Rev Neurosci. 2009;32:1-32. doi:10.1146/annurev.neuro.051508.135531 Chhabria A. Psychogenic Pain Disorder - Differential Diagnosis and Treatment. Supplement to Journal of the Association of Physicians of India. February 2015:36-40. Additional Reading Gould, Harry J. Understanding Pain: What it is, Why it Happens and How it’s Managed. American Academy of Neurology Press. 2007. By Erica Jacques Erica Jacques, OT, is a board-certified occupational therapist at a level one trauma center. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit