US Medical Term · symptoms
Referred Pain
Dolor referido
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Referred Pain |
| Spanish (Español) | Dolor referido |
| Chinese (中文) | 牽涉痛 |
| Korean (한국어) | 연관통 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Đau quy chiếu |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Referred na sakit |
| Portuguese (Português) | Dor referida |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | อาการปวดร้าวจากอวัยวะอื่น |
| Japanese (日本語) | 関連痛 |
What it means
Referred pain is pain that is felt in a part of the body other than the actual source of the problem. This happens because nerves from different areas share pathways in the spinal cord, causing the brain to misinterpret where the pain signal originates. A classic example is heart attack pain felt in the left arm or jaw. A diaphragm problem may cause shoulder tip pain. Gallbladder issues can cause right shoulder pain. Referred pain can make diagnosis challenging, so providing your doctor with a complete description of all your symptoms and their locations—not just the most painful area—is important for accurate evaluation.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
I have pain in my right shoulder that my doctor thinks may be coming from my gallbladder.
Tengo dolor en el hombro derecho que mi médico cree que puede provenir de la vesícula biliar.
The pain in my left arm and jaw started at the same time as my chest pressure.
El dolor en el brazo izquierdo y la mandíbula comenzó al mismo tiempo que la presión en el pecho.
My pain moves around and is not always in the same spot.
Mi dolor se mueve y no siempre está en el mismo lugar.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026