Chronic Pain Consult Note

Completed note

Chronic Pain Specialist Consult Note

Patient Identification: An adult patient presents with persistent lower back pain affecting daily activity.

History of Present Illness:
Pain has been present for several months, described as a dull ache across the lower back, with occasional buttock discomfort. Prolonged sitting worsens it; gentle walking helps. The patient rates typical pain as moderate and reports reduced tolerance for household tasks. No progressive weakness, saddle sensory change, or bowel or bladder dysfunction. Home stretching provided partial relief. No prior injection or spine surgery. The patient hopes to resume regular walks.

Past Medical History:
- No major chronic conditions reported.
- No prior spine surgery.

Medications:
- Occasional over-the-counter acetaminophen; dose not confirmed.

Allergies:
- No known drug allergies reported.

Family History:
- No known hereditary pain condition reported.

Social History:
- Desk-based work; no tobacco reported. Lives with family support.

Physical Examination:
- Vitals stable. Comfortable at rest; lumbar movement mildly limited by discomfort. Lower-extremity strength and sensation are intact; gait steady.

Investigations:
- No imaging or laboratory results available for review.

Assessment & Plan:
Adult with persistent axial lower back pain, likely mechanical, limiting activity.

1) Persistent lower back pain
- Continue graded walking and consider physical therapy.
- Review prior records and imaging if available before ordering further studies.
- Discussed pacing and non-drug strategies; medication history and risks should be reviewed before changes.
- Follow up to reassess function; seek urgent care for new weakness, saddle numbness, or bowel or bladder changes.

Illustrative case with invented patient details. This is not a real patient record or clinical guidance. Review each note against your own consultation.

Clinical facts behind the note

Reusable template structure

Chronic Pain Specialist Consult Note

Patient Identification: [Patient name, age, gender, with a history of..., presenting with chronic pain in..., duration of symptoms, relevant comorbidities]

History of Present Illness:
[Detailed description of pain including location, quality, intensity, duration, frequency, aggravating and relieving factors, associated symptoms, impact on function and quality of life]
[Previous treatments tried and response]
[Relevant psychosocial context]

Past Medical History:
(hyphenated list)
- [Chronic conditions]
- [Previous surgeries]
- [Relevant hospitalizations]

Medications:
(hyphenated list)
- [Medication name, dose, route, frequency]
- [Include pain medications, adjuncts, and other relevant therapies]

Allergies:
(hyphenated list)
- [Drug allergies]
- [Other allergies]

Family History:
(hyphenated list)
- [Relative: Condition or pertinent diagnosis]
- [Hereditary pain syndromes if relevant]

Social History:
(hyphenated list)
- [Tobacco: type, amount, duration, quit date if applicable]
- [Alcohol: type, amount, frequency]
- [Recreational substances: type, amount, frequency]
- [Occupation: current job, exposures, impact of pain on work]
- [Living situation: who lives with patient, home environment]
- [Support systems]

Physical Examination:
(hyphenated list)
- [Vital signs with units in one line] (e.g., HR: #, BP: #, T: #, RR: #, O2 sats: #%)
- [General appearance]
- [Musculoskeletal: inspection, palpation, range of motion, tenderness, swelling, deformity]
- [Neurological: motor, sensory, reflexes, gait, coordination]
- [Other relevant systems]

Investigations:
(hyphenated list)
- [Imaging results with units]
- [Laboratory results with units]
- [Other diagnostic tests]

Assessment & Plan:
[One-sentence patient summary including age, sex, pain diagnosis, and impact]

#) [Pain diagnosis as a numbered item]
(hyphenated list with each corresponding plan item on a new line)
- [Further investigations planned or ordered]
- [Medication adjustments or recommendations]
- [Non-pharmacological therapies (e.g., physical therapy, psychological interventions)]
- [Interventional procedures (e.g., injections, nerve blocks)]
- [Counselling discussion]
- [Referrals sent (e.g., physiotherapy, psychology, other specialties)]
- [Follow up plan]
- [Return precautions]