Chronic Pain
Chronic Pain Diagnosis
Receiving a diagnosis of chronic pain usually requires seeing a pain management specialist. Aside from consulting your personal and family medical histories, a specialist will likely use the following13 to assess your condition:
- Description of your pain: A medical professional will ask about where your pain is located, what it feels like, how severe it is, and for how long it has lasted.
- Physical exam: Determining whether your pain is coming from an identifiable source generally begins with a physical exam.
- Lab tests: These can be used to examine the blood, urine, feces, or spinal/brain fluid. Testing can help rule out any hidden conditions that might be causing your pain.
- Imaging tests: These may include an MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, or X-rays. Imaging tests help ensure that all of the body’s internal structures are functioning as they should and that nothing is out of place that may be causing pain.
- Electrodiagnostic tests: These tests examine muscle and nerve function to see whether there are underlying conditions that might explain your pain.
People affected by chronic pain often have normal results across multiple tests despite experiencing pain that interferes with their daily lives. However, even when there’s no clear cause of your pain, it’s still possible to treat the pain itself. A specialist can either provide you with a diagnosis of chronic pain syndrome or simply begin treatment without a specific diagnosis.
Related Conditions
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Disclaimer: The information on this site is generalized and is not medical advice. It is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard seeking advice or delay in seeking treatment because of something you have read on our site. RxSaver makes no warranty as to the accuracy, reliability or completeness of this information.
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