Nociceptive pain

Nociceptive pain is pain that arises from actual or threatened tissue damage detected by specialized nerve endings called nociceptors.

It is the familiar pain of a cut, a sprain, a burn or an inflamed joint: the nervous system is working normally and reporting real injury. Somatic nociceptive pain comes from skin, muscle, bone and joints and is usually well localized and aching or sharp. Visceral nociceptive pain comes from internal organs and tends to be dull, cramping and poorly localized. It contrasts with neuropathic pain, which stems from a damaged nervous system, and nociplastic pain, which involves altered pain processing without clear injury.

Clinicians classify pain by mechanism because each type responds differently and calls for a different workup. Assessment includes location, quality, intensity ratings and an examination to identify the injured or inflamed tissue. Cannabinoids have been studied across chronic pain conditions, and evidence specific to nociceptive pain remains limited.