To evaluate the clinical value of a new self assessment method of pain, so called pain rating score(PRS), we performed the visual analogue scale, verbal rating scale, McGill pain questionnaire, and PRS on 60 patients with complained neuro-musculo-skeletal pain. The results showed that the reliability of PRS was very high. The PRS was a simple, easy, and comprehensive method to assess the pain for its intensity, frequency, duration, and aggravating factors. The PRS was very sensitive for the change of pain. Based on the above results we have concluded that, the new self assessment method of pain, pain rating score(PRS), is a valuable and useful clinical method which is simple, easy to perform and comprehensive.
Humans ; Pain Measurement ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Self-Assessment*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of epidural injection for spinal stenosis with symptoms of low back pain, pseudoclaudication, or radiating pain. METHOD: Thirteen patients with spinal stenosis which were confirmed by the computed tomography (CT) studies were treated with epidural injections of steroids and local anesthetics for three times with 1 week interval. The efficacy of epidural injection was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS), pain rating score (PRS), treadmill test, and jump test. RESULTS: 1) The VAS, PRS, pain free walking distances, and jump heights were checked right before injection, and at 1 week and 3 months after injection. The VAS and PRS were significantly decreased after epidural injection. The pain free walking distances and the jump heights were significantly increased after epidural injecton. CONCLUSION: Epidural injections of steroid and local anesthetics are effective in the short term period, but also in the long term period for patients with spinal stenosis.
Anesthetics, Local ; Exercise Test ; Humans ; Injections, Epidural* ; Low Back Pain ; Spinal Stenosis* ; Steroids ; Walking