Chronic pain: Diagnosis

Detailed medical anamnesis. Your doctor will ask you questions about the general medical history, past diseases and general health. He or she will ask you questions about your pain, previous episodes of pain, how they were treated, and whether this treatment was successful. In addition, the doctor will take into account any family history of chronic pain. In order to identify the activity that causes pain, how you treat the pain when it occurs, and whether the treatment helps relieve pain, your doctor may ask you to start keeping a pain diary.

Physical examination. During the survey, your physical condition will be evaluated, which will help the doctor identify pain areas. You may be asked to move your hands and / or legs to help identify painful areas. The physical examination helps to find out the state of health that contribute to chronic pain. You can also go through the following surveys as part of your physical examination:

Neurological examination In order to identify the possible problems of the nervous system. You may be asked to perform several instructions of a physical nature, for example, to go and exit the room or get out of the chair. By checking your reflexes, as well as your ability to feel a slight touch, this examination can help determine if you have problems with the nervous system. The doctor may also ask you to repeat a series of numbers or answer simple questions related to dates, places and current events.

Mental health assessment. This survey evaluates your emotional functioning and the ability to think, reason and remember. You may ask questions to determine whether your contribution to pain is making or whether the result of chronic pain that you suffer, such states as depression, insomnia, or stress. These states often occur during chronic pain. You may also ask about whether you use alcohol and drugs. Exhaustive and honest answers to these questions can help your doctor and you identify sources of your chronic pain.

Diagnostic research. These studies are often used to find out which health conditions may cause chronic pain. Such research may include:

Blood tests or other laboratory tests. A small sample of your blood is taken and analysis is carried out to determine if you have an infection or other condition that may be the cause of your pain.

X-ray and other studies Using the receipt of images (such as CT sections, magnetic resonance imaging, or images obtained by ultrasound). With these studies, the doctor gets an image of the internal structures of your body in order to check the presence of illness and injury.

Electromogram (EMG) and nerve conductivity research or other nerve studies. With these studies, the functioning of muscles and nerves is measured in order to determine if your chronic pain with muscle or nervous problems is connected.

Angiogram or other vascular research. At the same time, the study in your vessels is injected by coloring substance and a small tube is inserted in order to trace the passage of blood according to your body.

Diagnostic nerve blockades. One example is the injection of a local anesthetic in or around the nerve to identify whether this nerve causes pain.