Referred pain, felt away from its source

Referred pain

Referred pain is pain felt in one part of the body when the real source is somewhere else. A problem in the lower back can be felt down the leg, and a hip issue can be felt at the knee.

This matters because treating only where it hurts may miss the true cause. Nerves share pathways, so the brain can read the signal as coming from the wrong spot.

Our physiotherapist assesses the pattern to trace pain back to its source. We test movements, check the joints and nerves along the path, and then treat where the problem really lies. Where a medical cause is possible, we advise seeing a doctor first.