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Diagnostic Tests of Pain Fibres
In addition to the routine neurophysiologic tests that examine only the non-pain-transmitting nervous system, modern methods enable the function of the pain-transmitting sensory pathways to also be examined. As a quality control measure, our quantitative sensory testing laboratory was certified by the Society for Quantitative Pain Therapy (Certkom e.V. (D)) on 20 October 2011. These include the following methods:
Quantitative Sensory Testing (QST)
In QST, the sensitivity to non-painful (warm, cool, touch) and painful (cold, heat, pinprick) stimulation as well as pathological sensory changes (excessive or reduced sensitivity to such stimuli) can be measured. Information about damage to nerve fibres that can produce pain can be obtained by this method.
Laser Doppler Imaging (LDI)
Electrical stimulation of the skin produces a reddened area that is mediated by nerve fibres that play a role in pain perception. The redness is measured quantitatively by a laser beam; this measurement can demonstrate the site of damage to the nerve fibres.
Laser-evoked Potentials (LEP)
Laser-evoked potentials can demonstrate whether pain-transmitting nerves as well as their pathways in the spinal cord and brain are intact or damaged. A slightly painful heat stimulus is applied to the skin, and the resulting reaction in the brain is measured.
