How is pain diagnosed?
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There are no tests to determine whether or not a person is in pain. Doctors may ask a series of questions to try to characterize and locate the pain to determine its cause and find a treatment. Doctors may also move the limbs or touch various spots on the body to try to figure out the source of the pain.
There are no tests to determine whether or not a person is in pain. Doctors may ask a series of questions to try to characterize and locate the pain to determine its cause and find a treatment. Doctors may also move the limbs or touch various spots... More -
Piedmont Heart Institute answered:There is no way to tell how much pain a person has. No test can measure the intensity of pain, no imaging device can show pain, and no instrument can locate pain precisely. Sometimes, as in cases of headaches, physicians find that the best aid to diagnosis is patients own description of the type, duration, and location of pain. Defining pain as sharp or dull, constant or intermittent, and burning or aching may give the best clues to the cause of pain. These descriptions are part of what is called the pain history, taken by the physician during the preliminary examination of a patient with pain.
Physicians, however, do have a number of technologies that they use to find the cause of pain. Primarily, these technologies include:
Electrodiagnostic procedures include electromyography (EMG), nerve conduction studies, and evoked potential (EP) studies. Information from EMG can help physicians tell precisely which muscles or nerves are affected by weakness or pain. Thin needles are inserted in muscles, and a physician can see or listen to electrical signals displayed on an EMG machine. With nerve conduction studies the doctor uses two sets of electrodes (similar to those used during an electrocardiogram) that are placed on the skin over muscles. The first set gives the patient a mild shock that stimulates the nerve that runs to that muscle. The second set is used to make a recording of the nerve's electrical signals, and from this information, the doctor can determine if there is nerve damage. EP tests also involve two sets of electrodes?one set for stimulating a nerve (these electrodes are attached to a limb) and another set on the scalp for recording the speed of nerve signal transmission to the brain. Imaging, especially magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), provides physicians with pictures of the body's structures and tissues. MRI uses magnetic fields and radio waves to differentiate between healthy and diseased tissue. A neurological examination enables a physician to test movement, reflexes, sensation, balance, and coordination. X-rays produce pictures of the body's structures, such as bones and joints.This answer is based on source information from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
There is no way to tell how much pain a person has. No test can measure the intensity of pain, no imaging device can show pain, and no instrument can locate pain precisely. Sometimes, as in cases of headaches, physicians find that the best aid to... More -
During a physical examination, a doctor will inspect the area of pain, looking for visual signs of causes, such as trauma and injury. Depending on the location, the doctor may test joints and muscles for strength and range of motion.
- Blood and urine tests: Blood and urine tests can help diagnose diseases that may be causing pain. They can identify abnormal amounts of hormones, enzymes, or other body chemicals that may indicate disease.
- Computed tomography (CT) scan: Computed tomography (CT) scan is an x-ray that uses computer technology and can be enhanced with the injection of a contrast dye into a vein. CT scans allow for multiple X-rays to be taken from different angles around the body where the pain is located to create a three-dimensional image of internal body structures. CT is used to show abnormalities in bones and soft tissue. CT scan can be used for individuals who are unable to tolerate MRI.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) tests use a powerful magnet to produce images on a computer screen and film. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans provide clear images of disc deterioration, pathologies of the spinal cord, spinal stenosis, herniated discs, spinal tumors, and abnormalities in nerves and ligaments. An MRI is conducted in a small, confined area, and some individuals may find this uncomfortable. Some individuals may have to be sedated using a mild sedative such as alprazolam (Xanax®) or lorazepam (Ativan®). If the individual is sedated, transportation should be organized using a family member or friend.
- Nerve conduction studies (NCS): Nerve conduction studies (NCS) evaluate muscle or nerve damage. These tests function by measuring the speed of electrical impulses through the nerves.
- X-ray: X-rays are low doses of radiation that create an image of a body part, organ, or bodily system on film paper or fluorescent screens. X-rays show the alignment of the spine and may reveal degenerative joint disease, fracture, or tumor.
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During a physical examination, a doctor will inspect the area of pain, looking for visual signs of causes, such as trauma and injury. Depending on the location, the doctor may test joints and muscles for strength and range of motion. Blood and... More
