Successful pain management requires attention to the concept of “total pain”. There are several different components of “total pain”.
Physical/biological
- differ from person to person
- previous pain experience
Psychological
- emotional state
- personality
- self-esteem
- previous mental illness
Family
- family systems
- family fears
- culture
Social
- economic factors
- education
- social class
- culture/ethnicity
Assessment should include:
Pain history (see Tips and Tools for Pain History)
Physical Exam
Psychosocial Assessment
Diagnostic Evaluation