What it means
In a pain assessment, pain that radiates starts in one place and is also felt along a path to another area. Chest pain may radiate to the left arm, jaw or back; kidney stone pain may radiate from the side to the groin; and pain from a pinched spinal nerve may radiate down the leg. Referred pain is a related idea: pain felt only in a place away from its source.
For the nurse
Ask "Does the pain go anywhere else?" and chart where it starts and where it spreads, along with its quality, severity and timing.
At a glance
| Also written | radiates, radiating |
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Related terms
pain assessment
A nurse's organized gathering of information about a client's pain: where it is, how bad it is, what it feels like and what changes it.
referred pain
Pain felt in a part of the body away from where the problem actually is.