A person has pain radiating from the left chest to the left arm. What type of pain is this?

The type of pain described—radiating from the left chest to the left arm—fits the definition of radiating pain. This term is used to characterize pain that spreads from one area of the body to another, often following a path along nerves or anatomical pathways. In this scenario, the left chest pain spreading to the left arm may suggest a potential cardiac issue, as heart-related pain can often radiate to the shoulder, arms, neck, or jaw, particularly on the left side.

When distinguishing this type of pain from others: acute pain typically refers to pain that is sharp and sudden, indicative of injury or an inflammatory process. Chronic pain, however, refers to pain that persists over a long duration, often beyond the expected period of healing. Phantom pain arises in individuals who have undergone limb amputation and involves sensations of pain in the absent limb. Given these definitions, the specific description of pain moving from the chest to the arm aligns precisely with the concept of radiating pain.