Tests and Diagnosis

PainDETECT — Screening for Neuropathic Pain

Some chronic low back pain includes a component called neuropathic pain — pain caused by nerve damage or dysfunction rather than tissue injury.

A large-scale survey using the PainDETECT questionnaire (over 300,000 participants) found (Freynhagen 2006):

• 37% of chronic low back pain patients had a neuropathic pain component
• Those with neuropathic pain reported higher pain intensity and were more likely to experience depression and sleep disturbance

Why This Matters

Neuropathic pain often responds poorly to standard painkillers (such as NSAIDs). It typically requires different types of medication or treatment approaches. When conservative treatments have not provided adequate relief, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) may be considered as one option.

If you experience sensations like "tingling," "electric shock–like pain," or "burning pain," describe these to your doctor as specifically as you can.