Assessment of neuropathic pain

In the clinical setting a neurological examination that includes an accurate sensory examination is often sufficient to reach a diagnosis. Nerve conduction studies and somatosensory evoked potentials, which do not assess small-fibre function, may demonstrate and localise a peripheral or central nervous lesion. A quantitative assessment of the nociceptive pathways is provided by quantitative sensory testing and laser-evoked potentials. We still lack a standard laboratory measure of pain that bypasses the subjective report.