Proper pain management requires an adequate evaluation, and an etiological diagnosis of the pain should always be explored. The evaluation should include a specific history of the pain, including location, radiation, intensity, aggravating and alleviating factors, and temporal descriptors (e.g., frequency, chronicity). Patterns of referred pain (below) should always be considered:

Evaluation generally includes detailed physical examinations including provocative tests, lab and imaging tests, and referrals to psychologists when appropriate. Frequently, the patient has already seen many physicians prior to seeing a pain specialist, and will carry many diagnoses already. A careful review of these diagnoses is critical.