Chronic Pain Types Superficial and Deep Somatic Pain Overview By Erica Jacques linkedin Erica Jacques, OT, is a board-certified occupational therapist at a level one trauma center. Learn about our editorial process Erica Jacques Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Grant Hughes, MD on November 02, 2019 linkedin Grant Hughes, MD, is a board-certified rheumatologist. He is an associate professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine and the head of rheumatology at Seattle’s Harborview Medical Center. Learn about our Medical Review Board Grant Hughes, MD Updated on November 05, 2019 Print The term "somatic pain" sounds like a complicated thing, but you probably know it well. If you cut your skin, the pain you experience is called a somatic pain. You also experience somatic pain if you stretch a muscle too far, exercise for a long period of time, or fall down onto the ground and hurt yourself. Tetra Images / Getty Images What Is Somatic Pain? Somatic pain is a type of nociceptive pain that includes skin pain, tissue pain, or muscle pain. Unlike visceral pain (another type of nociceptive pain that arises from internal organs), the nerves that detect somatic pain are located in the skin and deep tissues. These specialized sensory nerves, called nociceptors, pick up sensations related to temperature, vibration, and swelling in the skin, joints, and muscles — basically any painful stimuli. When nociceptors detect strong signals associated with tissue damage, they send impulses to the brain, which is how you feel or experience pain. Somatic pain can be either superficial or deep. Superficial Somatic Pain Superficial pain arises from nociceptive receptors in the skin and mucous membranes. For example, if you cut your lip, this pain is called superficial somatic pain. Superficial somatic pain is the type of pain that happens with common everyday injuries and is characterized as pricking, sharp, burning, or throbbing pain. Deep Somatic Pain Deep somatic pain originates from structures deeper within your body, such as your joints, bones, tendons, and muscles. Like visceral pain, deep somatic pain is usually dull and aching. Deep somatic pain can either be experienced locally or more generally depending on the degree of trauma. For example, if you bump your knee, the pain that you experience is localized to your knee. However, if you break your kneecap (called your patella) you likely experience pain throughout your entire leg. Treatment Somatic pain is treated in a variety of ways. It depends on the severity of the pain and its cause. For instance, light pain from a muscle cramp might be treated very differently than severe pain from a broken bone. Most minor cases of somatic pain respond well to over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol (acetaminophen) or NSAIDs like Aleve (naproxen) or Motrin (ibuprofen). A big difference between Tylenol and NSAIDs is that Tylenol offers no anti-inflammatory effects. So, Tylenol won't help with associated swelling. That being said, some people cannot take NSAIDs due to underlying health conditions like a history of gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney disease, or heart disease. It is important to always consult your doctor before taking any medication, even those available over-the-counter. With deep somatic pain or musculoskeletal pain, muscle relaxants like Baclofen or Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine) may provide relief. Opioids, or medications like oxycodone and hydrocodone, are best reserved for severe pain that is not relieved with Tylenol or NSAIDs alone. Please keep in mind that opioids carry a great risk of substance misuse and dependence. This is why opioids are typically prescribed for only short periods of time. Depending on the pain, your doctor may also recommend other therapies like a heating pad or cold pack on the painful area. Even activities like physical therapy, massage, or relaxation can help. A Word From Verywell The good news about somatic pain is that it usually fades once the underlying injury or insult heals. However, somatic pain that lasts longer than expected (more than 3 months) can become chronic pain, which requires a more rigorous treatment plan. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article 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. Carver AC, Foley KM. Types of Pain. In: Kufe DW, Pollock RE, Weichselbaum RR, et al., editors. Holland-Frei Cancer Medicine. 6th edition. Hamilton (ON): BC Decker; 2003. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK12991/ Kendroud S, Hanna A. Physiology, Nociceptive Pathways. [Updated 2019 Apr 24]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2019 Jan-. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470255/ Yam MF, Loh YC, Tan CS, Khadijah Adam S, Abdul Manan N, Basir R. General Pathways of Pain Sensation and the Major Neurotransmitters Involved in Pain Regulation. Int J Mol Sci. 2018;19(8):2164. Published 2018 Jul 24. doi:10.3390/ijms19082164 Keay KA, Clement CI, Owler B, Depaulis A, Bandler R. Convergence of deep somatic and visceral nociceptive information onto a discrete ventrolateral midbrain periaqueductal gray region. Neuroscience. 1994;61(4):727-32. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Pain, Disability, and Chronic Illness Behavior; Osterweis M, Kleinman A, Mechanic D, editors. Pain and Disability: Clinical, Behavioral, and Public Policy Perspectives. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1987. 7, The Anatomy and Physiology of Pain. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK219252/ Franceschi F, Marsiliani D, Alesi A, et al. A simplified way for the urgent treatment of somatic pain in patients admitted to the emergency room: the SUPER algorithm. Intern Emerg Med. 2015;10(8):985-92. Schnitzer TJ. Non-NSAID pharmacologic treatment options for the management of chronic pain. Am J Med. 1998;105(1B):45S-52S. Beebe FA, Barkin RL, Barkin S. A clinical and pharmacologic review of skeletal muscle relaxants for musculoskeletal conditions. Am J Ther. 2005;12(2):151-71. Park HJ, Moon DE. Pharmacologic management of chronic pain. Korean J Pain. 2010;23(2):99–108. doi:10.3344/kjp.2010.23.2.99 Raja SN, Meyer RA, Campbell JN. Peripheral mechanisms of somatic pain. Anesthesiology. 1988;68(4):571-90. Additional Reading Rosenquist RW, Vrooman BM. Chapter 47. Chronic Pain Management. In: Morgan & Mikhail's Clinical Anesthesiology. 5th ed. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill; 2013.