We usually try to determine whether a bodily injury or disease is causing the pain. Since there are many reasons for having pain, a detailed history is needed for the assessment of pain. Some of the following points are often useful:

• Site of pain: Patients may be asked to locate the site where pain is felt most.
  

• Duration of pain: This refers to how long you have been suffering from the pain. It can be described in hours, days, months or even years.

• Course of pain: Whether the pain is “continuous” or “intermittent” (having pain free intervals).

• Severity of pain: You may be asked to rate your pain on a scale from 1 to 10.

• Radiation: Does the pain stay in one place or does it move or spread to other parts of the body.

• Character: What does the pain feel like. Common descriptions include: stabbing, burning, pricking, gnawing, aching, dull, gripping, colicky, jolt like etc. Although it’s very difficult to describe pain in words, it does help to give a better idea of the character of the problem.

• Aggravation of pain: What brings the pain on and what makes it worse.

• Time of pain: Is there any special time when the pain occurs (e.g. after taking meals or after doing exercise etc).

• Relief: What causes the pain to improve.

• Associations: Are there any other symptoms associated with pain (e.g. vomiting, nausea, fever, headache etc).