NCBTMB Practice Exam 2026 - Free Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork Certification Prep Questions

Visceral pain specifically refers to discomfort that arises from the internal organs of the body. This type of pain is often described as a deep, squeezing, or vague sensation, and it typically correlates with issues related to the organs, such as inflammation, injury, or dysfunction. It can be challenging to localize visceral pain because it is transmitted through the autonomic nervous system, often leading to referred pain in other areas of the body.

In contrast, somatic pain originates from the skin, muscles, bones, or joints, and is usually sharper and easier to pinpoint. Neuropathic pain is a result of damage to the nervous system itself, causing abnormal pain sensations. This can happen due to conditions like diabetes or after an injury. Phantom pain, on the other hand, occurs after an amputation where the individual feels pain in a limb that is no longer there. Each of these other pain types is distinctly different in origin and presentation compared to visceral pain.