Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

What best describes referred pain in a patient with abdominal and shoulder pain?

1. Pain is felt in both areas simultaneously

2. Pain from the elbow radiating to the shoulder

3. Pain in the right shoulder without pain in the abdomen

4. Pain exclusively in the abdomen

The correct answer is: Pain in the right shoulder without pain in the abdomen

Referred pain occurs when discomfort is perceived in one area of the body even though the source of the pain is located elsewhere. In the case of abdominal and shoulder pain, option C accurately describes this phenomenon. Specifically, referred pain can arise from conditions affecting the diaphragm or organs in the abdomen that irritate areas of the body innervated by the same spinal nerves as the shoulder, leading to pain sensed in the right shoulder while not directly feeling pain in the abdomen. This understanding of referred pain is crucial for medical professionals, as it helps in diagnosing underlying issues that may not present with typical symptoms in the area where a patient feels discomfort. It exaggerates the importance of a thorough assessment and the understanding that pain may not always localize to the site of injury or dysfunction, enabling better treatment strategies. The other choices do not adequately illustrate the concept of referred pain as they either describe simultaneous pain (which does not emphasize the referral aspect) or suggest localized pain without accompanying symptoms in the other area, failing to capture the essence of how referred pain operates.