The difficult task for the health care provider is to evaluate these patients in a comprehensive fashion. When pain persists beyond the expected period for healing of an injury, or is associated with progressive disease, it may be appropriate to refer patients for specialized assessment and evaluation. Tables 2 and 3 list questions to consider in patients who report persistent or recurring pain. Conclusion Because of their inherent subjectivity, pain, suffering, and disability are difficult to prove, disprove, or quantify in a totally satisfactory fashion. The report of pain is influenced by multiple factors such as cultural conditioning, expectations, social contingencies, mood state, perceptions of control, and the like.
Physical pathology is only one, albeit a key, contributor to the experience of pain.
The central point to keep in mind is that the patient reporting pain must be evaluated, not just the pain per se. Dennis C. Turk, Ph.D. Pain Evaluation and Treatment Institute University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine References 1. Handbook of Pain Assessment. Turk DC, Meichenbaum D. Textbook of Pain, 2nd ed. The Skin Senses.