PainDETECT Questionnaire for Chronic Pain in Spine

PainDETECT is a self-administered screening questionnaire used to assess the likelihood of neuropathic pain components in patients with chronic pain conditions like low back pain, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis. It consists of 9 items that evaluate the quality, severity, course, and radiating nature of the patient's pain.

The PainDETECT scoring ranges from -1 to 38. A score of ≤12 suggests neuropathic pain is unlikely, a score of 13-18 indicates an unclear neuropathic component and a score of ≥19 suggests a probable neuropathic pain component.

Yes, it is possible to live with chronic nerve pain, though it can significantly impact quality of life. Chronic neuropathic pain is often difficult to manage and may require a multidisciplinary approach involving medications, physical therapy, psychological interventions, and other treatments tailored to the individual patient.