Pain Assessment
Pain assessment is the process of defining the pain experienced by a patient not merely as "present" or "absent," but by systematically identifying its location, severity, character, and impact on quality of life within a medical framework.
ℹWhat is Pain Assessment?
Since pain is a subjective experience, the physician's ability to make an accurate diagnosis and create an effective treatment plan depends on this detailed inquiry. Specific protocols such as PQRST are generally used to analyze pain.
PQRST Approach
- P (Provocation/Palliation): What triggers the pain? Does it increase with movement or subside with rest? Does heat or cold provide relief?
- Q (Quality): How is the pain felt? Is it sharp, dull, burning, stabbing, or like an electric shock? Burning pain generally indicates nerve damage, while dull pain points to the musculoskeletal system.
- R (Region/Radiation): Where exactly is the pain? Does it radiate to elsewhere?
- S (Severity): The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), scored from 0 to 10, is typically utilized.
- T (Timing): When did it start? Is it constant or does it occur in episodes?
Why Is It Performed?
Pain management specialists (Algologists) perform this assessment for the following critical reasons: to determine the source of pain (nociceptive, neuropathic, or psychological), to plan personalized treatment, to monitor treatment progress, and to understand functional status.