McGill Pain Index

There are many versions of the McGill Pain Index. This one includes various types of childbirth pain as well.

Causalgia is Latin for "burning pain." It was the first name coined for RSDS, now sometimes called CRPS.

The McGill Pain Index was first developed in 1971 as a way of gauging the quality of pain. It was developed at McGill University by Melzack and Torgerson. When creating this index they included such things as sensory qualities (skin color, temperature changes, pressure, sensitivity...), affective qualities (tension, fear and autonomic properties...), and evaluative issues that help pinpoint the intensity of the pain.

This Index is used by doctors and hospitals around the world and is considered a very valuable tool when looking at chronic pain. It is considered to be a valid, reliable, consistent, and above all, useful instrument.

"Because pain is a private, personal experience, it is impossible for us to know precisely what someone else's pain feels like. No man can possibly know what it is like to have menstrual cramps or labor pain. Nor can a psychologically healthy person know what a psychotic patient is feeling when he says he has excruciating pain... There is a remarkable consistency in the choice of words by patients suffering the same or similar pain syndromes."

If you believe that you may be suffering from RSD as the result of an injury, we urge you to call us at 1-800-718-4658 to discuss your legal rights or submit our Free RSD Case Evaluation.

1-800-718-4658