title: Chronic pain assessment.
abstract: To be accurate with chronic pain assessment, the medical examiner should be alert to specific diagnoses in addition to global markers of decreased function associated with chronic pain, such as disability and depression. The key to accurate assessment is to avoid making assumptions before doing a complete history and physical examination. This article focuses on the history and examination and emphasizes pitfalls associated with overreliance on medical technology.
authors.affiliation: Seattle Spine & Sports Medicine, 3213 Eastlake Avenue East, Suite A, Seattle, WA 98102, USA. Electronic address: res@seattlespine.com.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seroussi
mesh_terms: D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010808:Physical Examination
keywords: Assessment; Chronic pain; Musculoskeletal; Neurologic; Physiatry; Review