What type of pain is characterized by starting in one area and spreading to a larger area?

Radiating pain is characterized by pain that begins in one specific area and then spreads outward to a broader region. This type of pain is often associated with nerve issues or tissue injury. For instance, a classic example is the pain that may start in the neck or shoulders and radiate down the arm due to nerve compression or inflammation.

In contrast, while allodynia refers to pain caused by stimuli that do not normally provoke pain, phantom pain describes sensations felt in a body part that has been amputated. Referred pain occurs when pain is perceived at a location other than its source, typically due to neural pathways sharing connections. Understanding these distinctions is essential in recognizing and appropriately treating various pain types within a clinical setting.