Self-check · 12 questions

Is your chronic pain nociplastic?

Take the test: how many clues of nociplastic pain do you recognize?

Nociplastic pain can feel exactly like pain caused by an injury, and it is just as real. So the two cannot be told apart by sensation alone. You need to look for clues, in your history and in the way your pain changes over time, after ruling out any serious medical condition with your doctor.

Be careful: it is not necessarily one or the other. Pain can have a physical origin and, at the same time, a nociplastic component. This test therefore helps spot whether a nociplastic part may be playing a role, without ruling out a physical cause.

Medical disclaimer

Rule out serious medical conditions first.

The very first step in diagnosing nociplastic pain is to rule out any serious medical conditions. You should see a doctor and undergo tests to confirm that your pain is not caused by a medical condition such as cancer, an infection, an autoimmune disease, or a fracture.

Read the full medical disclaimer

0/12answered

  1. 01

    Did your pain first appear during a particularly stressful life event or a period of high pressure?

    e.g.Divorce, death of a loved one, preparing for academic exams, starting a new job, getting a new boss, financial strain, planning a wedding, the birth of a child, family inheritance conflicts, retirement, and caring for an ailing parent.

  2. 02

    Did your pain begin without a clear physical injury, or has it persisted long after an initial injury should have fully healed?

    e.g.Symptoms that started for “no reason” without any preceding incident, or pain from a specific injury (like a sprained ankle) that continues long after the physical tissue has healed.

  3. 03

    Do your symptoms fluctuate significantly, or change based on the day of the week, your environment, or your mood?

    e.g.Pain that is a 7/10 during the work week but hardly noticeable on the weekend, pain that intensifies at the office but disappears at home, or symptoms that worsen on a stressful day and ease up when you are in a good mood.

  4. 04

    Do you experience pain or unpleasant sensations (tingling, burning, numbness) in several different, unrelated parts of your body?

    e.g.Experiencing chronic lower back pain, recurring migraines, and tingling in your hands all at once, or having multiple physical symptoms in unrelated areas that lack a single medical diagnosis.

  5. 05

    Does your pain move from one spot to another, or has it gradually spread from a small area to cover a larger part of your body?

    e.g.Pain “bouncing” from the left leg to the right leg, or starting in the lower back and eventually spreading to the neck and shoulders.

  6. 06

    Does your pain flare up when you are stressed, anxious, or frustrated, and decrease when you are calm or enjoying yourself?

    e.g.Pain might worsen when you are running late or arguing with someone, but fade away when you are focused on a hobby, having fun with friends or relaxing on vacation.

  7. 07

    Is your pain triggered by external factors like the weather, smells, sounds, specific locations, people, or even a specific time of day?

    e.g.Pain that only comes on at night, reacts to cold weather, triggers when smelling a certain scent, flares up whenever you visit a specific city, or starts every time you interact with a certain parent.

  8. 08

    Do you experience the same pain in the exact same location on both sides of your body?

    e.g.Having the same pain in both hands, both knees, or both shoulders at the same time.

  9. 09

    Does your pain often show up just after you have finished an activity, rather than hurting while you are doing it?

    e.g.Feeling great while walking or house cleaning, but experiencing a significant flare-up of pain just after you have finished and sat down to rest.

  10. 10

    Did you grow up in an environment where you felt unsafe, heavily criticized, or responsible for the emotions of the adults around you?

    e.g.Growing up with an anxious or critical parent, being bullied in school, living in an unpredictable household, or being responsible for an adult’s emotional well-being.

  11. 11

    Do you identify with perfectionism, self-criticism, or a need to please? Do you also find yourself being anxious, over-responsible, rigid, dependent, prone to guilt, or tending to keep everything inside?

    e.g.Rewriting an email three times to make it perfect, apologizing when you’ve done nothing wrong, saying “yes” to a favor when you’re already overwhelmed, or spending your evening ruminating over a small mistake made during the day.

  12. 12

    Have medical professionals been unable to find a clear structural cause for your pain, or have they told you that “nothing is wrong”?

    e.g.Clear imaging (MRIs/X-rays) or a diagnosis that doesn’t explain the severity of your symptoms.

Answer all the questions to see your result.