The medical history (history of illness) represents an important component in the diagnosis of chronic pain.
Family history
- What is the general health of your family members?
Social history
- What is your profession?
- Is there any evidence of psychosocial stress or strain due to your family situation?
Current medical history/systemic history (somatic and psychological complaints).
- Can you show (tell) me exactly where the pain is?
- Is the pain always in the same place?
- How long has the pain been present?
- Did the pain start slowly or suddenly?
- Is the pain more throbbing, pounding, stabbing pulsating or dull?
- Does the pain radiate?
- Is there a trigger for the pain?
- When does the pain occur, during the day and/or at night?
- Do you have any functional limitations due to the pain? If so, which ones?
- Are there any neurological limitations such as sensory disturbances or reduction in strength?
- On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is very mild and 10 is very severe, how severe is the pain?
- Have you noticed any accompanying symptoms such as swelling, redness, or overheating of the affected area?
- Do you experience pain at night that wakes you up?
Vegetative anamnesis including nutritional anamnesis.
- Has your appetite changed?
- Has your weight changed unintentionally?
- Do you suffer from sleep disorders?
- Do you get enough exercise every day?
- Do you smoke? If so, how many cigarettes, cigars or pipes per day?
- Do you drink alcohol? If yes, what drink(s) and how many glasses per day?
- Do you use drugs? If yes, what drugs and how often per day or per week?
Self history incl. medication history.
- Pre-existing conditions (bone / joint disease, diabetes mellitus (diabetes), tumor disease, injuries).
- Operations
- Allergies
- Medication history
