A chronic pain patient should have a thorough evaluation when presenting for care.
Evaluations:
(1) history of the pain (causes, location, temporality, severity, precipitating factors, etc)
(2) pain beliefs
(3) drug history
(4) other pain interventions
(5) alcohol and substance use
(6) past medical history
(7) comorbid conditions
(8) psychiatric history
(9) allergies
(10) family history
(11) social history
(12) relevant reproductive history
(13) occupational history
(14) impairments
(15) lifestyle factors
(16) quality of life
Examinations:
(1) past medical records
(2) physical exam
(3) imaging studies
(4) pertinent laboratory testing
Interpretations:
(1) type of pain: neuropathy, nocioceptive, central, mixed
(2) diagnosis of underlying cause
