Pain Assessment Information

The information in this section provides individuals with knowledge in the form of “Fast Facts” (documents that provide a brief overview and details about a specific subject) about pain assessment, pain assessment tools used to determine the level of pain a patient is experiencing and details about specific types of pain, including possible causes of the pain, information related to the professional assessment of this type of pain, and possible treatments.

Pain Assessment

• Pain 101

  • “Pain 101” provides a general overview of pain, types of pain, key components of a comprehensive pain assessment, and pain management key points and suggestions.

• One Minute Pain Assessment

  • “One Minute Pain Assessment” describes a quick and easy assessment which an older adult can complete to help identify the pain they are experiencing.

• Selected Pain Assessment Tools

  • “Selected Pain Assessment Tools” provides an overview of common pain assessment tools used by clinicians to assess pain in older adults including: a verbal descriptor scale, a numeric rating scale, the FACES pain scale which provides pictures of faces that an individual can point to, to describe their pain and the PEG Scale that includes an assessment of pain, enjoyment, and general activity.

Pain Conditions

• Abdominal Pain

  • "Abdominal Pain" provides an overview of Conditions which case this type of pain, possible interventions and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with Abdominal pain.

• *NEW* Bursitis

  • "Bursitis" provides an overview of Bursitis, causes and types of bursitis, symptoms, and what else older adults or family caregivers should do to assist with Bursitis.

• Cancer Pain

  • "Cancel Pain" provides an overview of Cancer pain, common treatments, and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with Cancer pain.  

• Chest Pain

  • "Chest Pain" provides an overview of chest pain including potential causes and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with chest pain.  

• Eye Pain

  • "Eye Pain" provides an overview of normal changes in the aging eye, assessment for issues, possible interventions, and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with eye pain.  

• Fibromyalgia

  • "Fibromyalgia" provides an overview of what medical professionals assess, possible interventions, and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with pain related to fibromyalgia. 

• Foot Pain

  • "Foot Pain" provides an overview of causes of foot pain, possible interventions, and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with foot pain.  

• Gout Pain

  • "Gout Pain" provides an overview of causes of gout pain, possible interventions, and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with gout pain.

• *NEW* Hand Pain 

  • "Hand Pain" provides an overview of hand pain, possible causes, treatment, and what else older adults or family caregivers should do to assist with hand pain.

• *NEW* Hand Pain - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

  • "Hand Pain - Carpal Tunnel Syndrome" provides an overview of carpal tunnel syndrome, causes and symptoms, and what else older adults or family caregivers should do to assist with carpal tunnel syndrome.

• Headache Pain

  • "Headache Pain" provides an overview of types of headaches, red flag symptoms, assessment, and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with headache pain.  

• Joint Pain

  • "Joint Pain" provides an overview of different types of joint pain, possible interventions, and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with joint pain.  

• Kidney Stones

  • "Kidney Stones" provides an overview of possible causes of kidney stones, what the medical professional will assess, possible interventions, and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with kidney stone pain.  

• Lower Back Pain

  • "Low Back Pain" provides an overview of possible cause of LBP, what medical professionals assess, possible interventions, and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with low back pain.

• Migraine Pain 

  • "Migraine Pain" provides an overview of migraines, including the symptoms and impact, possible interventions and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with migraine pain.

• Neuropathic Pain

  • "Neuropathic Pain" provides an overview of different types of neuropathic pain, possible treatments, and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with neuropathic pain. 

• Oral Pain

  • "Oral Pain" provides an overview of possible causes of oral pain, what medical professional assess, possible interventions, and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with oral pain.

• *NEW* Osteoarthritis

  • "Osteoarthritis" provides an overview of osteoarthritis, including the symptoms and impact, possible interventions and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with osteoarthritis pain.

• Pain After Surgery 

  • "Pain After Surgery" provides an overview of causes of "Pain After Surgery", possible interventions, and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with "Pain After Surgery".  

• Pain vs. Depression

  • "Pain vs. Depression" provides an overview the symptoms of depression vs the symptoms of unmanaged pain and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist.  

• Polymyalgia Rheumatica

  • "Polymyalgia Rheumatica " provides an overview of Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PRM), the possible symptoms, possible interventions and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with PMR. 

• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)

  • "Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)" provides an overview of RA pain, what medical professional assess, possible interventions, and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with RA pain. 

• Shingles

  • "Shingles" provides an overview of Shingles, including the symptoms and impact, possible interventions and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with Shingles pain.  

• Sinus Pain 

  • "Sinus Pain" provides an overview of the causes of Sinus pain, possible interventions,  and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with Sinus pain.  

• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)

  • "Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)" provides an overview of normal changes of aging and the increased risk of UIT, assessment, possible interventions and what else the older adults or family caregiver should do to assist with UTI pain.  

Webpage Last Revised 12.20.2023