NEW IMPROVED EXAMINATION METHODS
Diagnose Precisely the Causes of Pain,
so that Effective Specific Treatment can be Induced.
New examination techniques enable the doctor to diagnose
precisely the cause of pain so that the treatment
can be specific and most effective. If the cause of
pain is eradicated, usually there is immediate relief
that lasts for a long period of time. Such an approach
is evidently much more effective than the usual conventional
pain treatments, which are limited to alleviation
of symptoms only, without removing the cause of the
pain.
The improved examination methods include: Electric
Skin Conductance, a test that quantifies sensitization
and nerve dysfunction independent of a patients reaction;
Pressure Algometry which quantifies tenderness over
trigger points; and the Pinch and Roll technique which
provides the most sensitive test for detection of
nerve sensitization.
Sensitized nerves are usually the immediate cause
of pain. Sensitization is considered when the nerves
become painful on pressure and scratching of the skin
with a sharp object, causes an exaggerated pain response
over the area supplied by the affected nerve. Trigger
Points (TrPs) are small, very tender areas in muscles,
ligaments, and other soft tissues that usually are
the immediate cause of pain.
Spinal segmental sensitization (SSS) is
a very important, recently described pain syndrome.
The spinal segment controls the pain and sensitivity
in muscles and other tissues. SSS is diagnosed if
the area of the skin supplied by a specific spinal
segment is sensitized i.e., scratching by a sharp
object is perceived by the patient sharper than over
normal territories and pinching the skin causes pain.
The possibility to diagnose SSS in daily practice
substantially improved our ability to alleviate pain
instantaneously, regardless of its cause. All painful
conditions, such as acute or chronic injuries, inflammation,
arthritis, low back or neck pain, fibromyalgia, reflex
sympathetic dystrophy, etc., demonstrate the presence
of SSS that mediates the pain.
