Visceral pain is pain due to activation of nociceptors of the thoracic, pelvic, or abdominal viscera (organs).

• Pain that is:
  • Diffuse
  • Difficult to localize
  • Sickening
  • Deep
  • Squeezing
  • Dull
  • Referred to a distant, usually superficial, structure
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Changes in vitals
• Emotional manifestations

• Visceral structures are highly sensitive to distension (stretch), ischemia, and inflammation. HOWEVER, visceral structures are relatively INSENSITIVE to other stimuli that normally evoke pain (e.g. cutting or burning)

• GI neuromuscular diseases, where pain is caused by distinct structural lesions or biochemical abnormalities
• Functional GI disorders, where visceral pain is often very intense in nature, without any evidence of structural, biochemical or histopathological reasons for such Sx