Medical history to assess chronic pain

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Your health professional will obtain your medical history by asking questions related to:

Your general medical history, past illnesses, and overall health.
Your pain: how long it has lasted, whether you have had it before, how it was treated, and what relieves your pain.
- Describe your pain: where, how severe, how often?
- Do any movements or activities make it better or worse?
- Do you have burning sensations, a pins-and-needles feeling, or shooting pain?
- What medications or other treatments have you tried? Were they effective? Any side effects?
Your family history of chronic pain: whether other members of your family have had it and how it was treated.
Prescription and nonprescription medications that you are taking.
Any history you have of alcohol or drug dependence.
Any complementary or alternative medicine therapies that you are using or have tried including supplements, such as herbs.

Credits

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Author	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
Editor	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS
Associate Editor	Pat Truman, MATC
Primary Medical Reviewer	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine
Primary Medical Reviewer	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Nancy Greenwald, MD - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Last Updated	February 22, 2007

Last updated:	February 22, 2007
Author:	Shannon Erstad, MBA/MPH
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Nancy Greenwald, MD - Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC

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